Sentinel lymph nodes in early stage cervical cancer

Lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor in cervical cancer. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedures have been purported to reduce peri- and postoperative morbidity and operative time.

All patients with surgically managed clinical FIGO stage IA/B1 cervical cancer underwent SLN followed by pelvic lymphadenectomy with technetium+/-lymphazurin from April 2004 to April 2006. 0.1-0.2 mci of filtered sulfur colloid technetium was injected submucosally into 4 quadrants of the exocervix. Lymphazurin (4cc) was only used if technetium was unsuccessful in identifying bilateral sentinel lymph nodes. Serial microsections at 5 microm intervals were performed and stained intraoperatively. Complete pelvic node dissections were performed in all patients.

Forty-two patients underwent SLN, prior to full pelvic lymphadenectomy. Thirty-nine patients were included for the purposes of this study. The incidence in detecting at least one sentinel node was 98% per patient, and 85% per side. Identification of bilateral sentinel lymph nodes was successful in 28 cases (72%). The median number of SLN/side was 2. Three patients were found to have metastatic tumor to lymph nodes. No false negatives were identified. No adverse effects were noted.

SLN biopsy in cervical cancer is feasible to do, with a low false negative rate. We believe SLN should be evaluated per side and not per patient, that a pelvic lymphadenectomy is otherwise required. By following this protocol, the false negative rate can be minimized. The combined reported FN rate in the literature is 1.8%. If our definition is applied, the majority of reported false negative SLN is not actual false negatives.