title: Clinical value of sentinel node mapping in carcinoma of the colon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sentinel lymph node mapping has been used in colon cancer to improve prognosis. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of in vivo SLNM in patients with colon carcinoma undergoing surgery with curative intent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients operated for colon carcinoma underwent in vivo sentinel lymph node mapping using patent blue dye. Each sentinel lymph node (SLN) was marked intraoperatively, and histological examination was performed after en bloc resection. If no metastasis was found, step sectioning with immunohistochemistry was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SLN was successfully identified in 28 (90%) of 31 patients. The false-negative rate to identify stage III disease was 66% (eight of 12), the negative predictive value was 46% (19 of 27) and the accuracy was 14% (four of 28). One patient negative on routine histopathology had micrometastasis on step sectioning of the SLN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sentinel lymph node mapping in colon carcinoma cannot accurately predict nodal status.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Visceral Surgery, General District Hospital Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Retter
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: T H K
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Schiedeck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*