The sentinel lymph node is a technique of gynecological oncology that helps to stage malignancies, having a high sensitivity rate that in some cancers such as in endometrial cancer it can reach and exceed 98%.
“It’s basically a surgical procedure where a lymph node is removed and biopsied to help determine if the cancer has spread beyond an initial tumor in our lymphatic system,” he explains. Mr. Stylianos Ivros Gynecologist, Director of the Gynecological Oncology Unit Metropolitan Hospital and adds:
“The technique is based on the observation that the sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node to which the lymph of the disease reaches, i.e. the first lymph node to which the cancer cells reach. By locating this lymph node and checking whether it is negative (or positive) for metastatic infiltration, i.e. cancer cells, we can know for sure if the disease has progressed. This gives us valuable information on staging, that is, on the extent of the disease, which we use in adjuvant treatment.
At the same time, it frees patients from the extensive operation of lymphadenectomy, an operation that increases morbidity (probability of lymphedema of the lower extremities in the first 2 years after surgery up to 30%).
In which gynecological malignancies can it be applied?
The sentinel lymph node technique has been used for years in vulvar cancer, cervical cancer and, in recent years, endometrial cancer, with excellent success rates of up to 98%.
It should be noted that the technique has been applied in general in surgical oncology (breast cancer, melanoma, etc.) also successfully for decades.
The advantages of the technique
“The technique has two very important advantages. The first is that with the help of a certain dye we can discover even cancer cells that have started to “travel” from the main tumor to other places and the second advantage is that we can get the maximum information about the tumor with lowest possible surgical cost. This in turn means the right, individualized adjuvant treatment that the patient needs”, concludes Mr. Ivros.
Source :Skai
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