Sentinel lymph-node biopsy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a single-centre experience with sentinel lymph-node biopsy (SLNB) as a staging procedure in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis.


METHODS
The study included 60 patients with SCC of the penis, who had SLNB in all groins where no palpable nodes were found, and in groins with palpable nodes with negative fine-needle aspiration cytology. Lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative lymph node detection was done using (99m)Tc-nanocolloid and no use of blue dye.


RESULTS
In all, there were 97 SLNB procedures in 52 patients; 20 (20.6%) of the SLNB were positive for nodal metastases. Two negative SLNB proved to be false-negative during the observation period. The false negative-rate was 9%, the sensitivity 91% and the negative predictive value 97.5%. Minor early complications occurred after 4% of the SLNB procedures. No major or late complications were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
SLNB is minimally invasive and can be used as a safe and reliable staging procedure in patients with SCC of the penis. Thus standard lymph-node dissection can be avoided in most patients.
Jensen
Jørgen Bjerggaard
JB
Department of Urology, Institute of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus Sygehus NBG, Skejby, Denmark. jb@doktor.dk
Jensen
Klaus Møller-Ernst
KM
Ulhøi
Benedicte Parm
BP
Nielsen
Søren Steen
SS
Lundbeck
Finn
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000592:standards*