Sampling of sentinel lymph nodes: a simulation study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the effects of various slicing schemes on the detection of metastases in lymph nodes.


METHODS
Use of an advanced computer simulation tool.


RESULTS
Bisectioning along the longitudinal axis is an inadequate approach. Slicing ellipsoid lymph nodes along their longitudinal axis also results in a lower rate of detecting metastases since metastatic deposits have a predilection to localize subcapsularly.


CONCLUSIONS
Ellipsoid lymph nodes must be sliced perpendicular to the longest axis to increase the rate of detecting metastases.
Celasun
Bülent
B
Department of Pathology, Başkent University School of Medicine, Bahçelievler, 06490 Ankara, Turkey. bulent.celasun@superonline.com
Mumcuoğlu
Erkan U
EU
Kalkan
Habil
H
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*