[Sentinel lymph node mapping in non-small cell lung cancer].
The sentinel node (SN) concept is that lymphatic flux from a primary tumor initially flows into the SN. If this concept is correct, and metastasis is not found in a SN, it almost certainly that metastasis is not present in more distal lymph nodes. SN mapping and biopsy were developed as techniques for staging the lymphatic basin without the potential morbidity of lymph edema and nerve injury in cases of melanoma, or lymph edema of the arm in cases of breast cancer. Although there is also evidence of the existence of SN in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), SN mapping is not widely used in the treatment of NSCLC. The potential benefit of SN mapping in NSCLC is enabling surgeons to know more precise staging of cancer. More sensitive techniques can be employed with a limited amount of tissue to detect micrometastasis. In addition, SN mapping can be applied to appropriate segmentectomy for NSCLC.
Ito
Manabu
M
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Ogawa
J
J
D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*