[Value of the sentinel node biopsy in uterine cancers]

In cancer research, regional lymph node status is a major prognostic factor and a decision criterion for adjuvant therapy. The sentinel node procedure, which has emerged to reduce morbidity of extensive lymphadenectomy, remains a major step in the surgical management of various cancers. Sentinel node procedure has become a standard technique for the determination of the nodal stage of the disease in patients with melanoma, vulvar cancer and recently in breast cancer. In cervical and endometrial cancers, the sentinel node biopsy is still at the stage of feasibility. In this article, we review the technical aspects, results and clinical implications of sentinel node procedure in cervical and endometrial cancers.