The sentinel node in cervical cancer patients: role of tumor size and invasion of lymphatic vascular space.
BACKGROUND
The sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique aims at predicting the absence of regional nodal metastasis and seems promising in the management of cervical cancer patients.


METHODS
Forty patients undergoing surgery for early cervical cancer were submitted to the SLN procedure, using Blue Patente alone in 3, radiocolloid injection alone in 4 and both methods in 33 (82.5%). All patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.


RESULTS
The detection rate was as follows: overall 85%, blue dye alone 66%, radiocolloid alone 75%, dual method 87%. Detection was successful in 34 patients, with one false-negative result. No micrometastases were demonstrated during ultrastaging of the sentinels. The detection rate was higher in tumors <2 cm (94.1%) than in larger tumors (78.2%, p>0.09). Significant negative correlation between lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI) and detection rate was found (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
SLN detection is feasible in early cervical cancer but presence of LVSI and a tumor size >2 cm negatively affect the detection rate and may increase the incidence of false negatives.
Zarganis
Petros
P
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens 11528, Greece.
Kondi-Pafiti
Agatha
A
Arapantoni-Dadioti
Petroula
P
Trivizaki
Erasmia
E
Velentzas
Konstantinos
K
Vorgias
George
G
Fotiou
Stelios
S
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*