Author/Editor		Vakselj, Aleš; Bebar, Sonja
Title		The role of sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar carcinoma and the experiences at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana
Type		članek
Source		Radiol Oncol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 41, št. 4
Publication year		2007
Volume		str. 167-73
Language		eng
Abstract		Background. Sentinel node biopsy is a promising diagnostic staging procedure for vulvar carcinoma and it decreases postoperative morbidity. However, it has not been yet approved as a standard procedure. Patients and methods. From March 2003 to the end of 2006, 35 patients were treated for vulvar carcinoma with the technique of sentinel lymph node dissection. Mean age of the patient was 65.8 years (range 36-88 years). There had 32 patients squamous cell carcinoma, one malignant melanoma, one basal cell carcinoma, and one adeno-squamous cell carcinoma. Before surgery, sentinel node biopsy was made with performing 99mTc static and dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and with intradermal injection of methylene blue dye. Results. With this method we haven’t found metastases in 25 patients (71.4%). In 3 cases, we failed and found groin recurrence after 12, 24 and 26 months, respectively. In the first, the reason was probably lack of experience, in the second case, we couldn’t detect the second active node seen on the lymphographic scan, and in the third case, the reason was a prior surgical procedure and a scar in the groin region. In the group of SNB negative 22 patients were alive at the end of the year 2007 with no evidence of disease, one died after 45 months (groin recurrence), another one died of other causes. For one patient there is no current data. Patient with melanoma malignum is alive with liver metastases.Conclusions. In order to recognize the value of the obtained knowledge about the new treatment method and to confirm the efficiency or inefficiency of this method, further multicenter research studies need to be performed on larger randomized groups of patients.
Descriptors		VULVAR NEOPLASMS LYMPHATIC METASTASIS BIOPSY