title: Ex vivo sentinel lymph node "mapping" in colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period January-June 2006, 44 consecutive patients underwent curative surgery for colorectal cancer. In patients with colon and rectal cancer, 0.5-2 ml of Patent Blue Dye was injected submucosally. The injection sites where then gently massaged for 5 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 96% of the patients with colon cancer and 94% of the patients with rectal cancer, at least one sentinel lymph node was found. There were no patients with a false negative sentinel node. The sensitivity was 100% with a negative predictive value of 100%. In 19% of the patients with colon cancer and 18% of the patients with rectal cancer the sentinel node was the exclusive site of lymph node metastases. After additional sectioning and staining, 7 of the 23 patients (30%) with a Dukes B colorectal cancer were upstaged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique of ex vivo sentinel lymph node mapping is technically feasible with high sensitivity, high negative predictive value and a high rate of upstaging. The next step is to investigate, if detection of micro-metastases is associated with decreased survival and/or increased local recurrence rates.
authors: Department of Surgery, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, Tolbrugstraat 11, 5211 RW 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. pvanschaik@hotmail.com
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: van Schaik
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: van der Linden
authors: M F
authors: MF
authors: Ernst
authors: W A H
authors: WA
authors: Gelderman
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Bosscha
mesh_terms: D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C008769:sulfan blue