Dynamic sentinel node biopsy in penile carcinoma: evaluation of 10 years experience.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of 10 years dynamic sentinel node biopsy experience in penile carcinoma at our institute.


METHODS
140 patients with clinically node-negative groins were prospectively included. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after injection of 99mTechnetium-nanocolloid around the primary tumour. The sentinel node was intraoperatively identified with the aid of patent blue dye and a gamma ray detection probe. Lymph node dissection was performed only if sentinel node metastasis was found. Median follow-up was 52 months (range 5-129).


RESULTS
Lymphoscintigraphy visualized at least 1 sentinel node in 138 patients. Sentinel node metastasis was found in 37 inguinal regions of 31 patients. The sentinel node was the only tumour-positive node in 78% (29/37) of the dissection specimens. Complications occurred in 8% (17/206) of the operated groins. False-negative results were encountered in 6 patients resulting in a false-negative rate of 16% (6/37 patients). 5-year disease-specific survival was 96% and 66% for patients with a tumour-negative sentinel node and tumour-positive sentinel node, respectively (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic sentinel node biopsy in penile carcinoma is of important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value at the cost of only minor morbidity.
Kroon
Bin K
BK
Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Horenblas
Simon
S
Meinhardt
Willem
W
van der Poel
Henk G
HG
Bex
Axel
A
van Tinteren
Harm
H
Valdés Olmos
Renato A
RA
Nieweg
Omgo E
OE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends