Robotic sentinel lymph node dissection experiences in endometrial cancer at our tertiary cancer treatment institution.

OBJECTIVE: In endometrial cancer surgery, sentinel lymph node dissection is used instead of staging surgery, particularly in advanced disease that is limited to the uterus. The aim of this study is to evaluate our practice of robotic sentinel lymph node dissection, which is applied to endometrial cancer patients in our tertiary cancer treatment center, according to the current literature, and to share our own data. METHODS: Included in our analysis are patients who underwent robotic sentinel lymph node dissection for endometrial cancer utilizing indocyanine green in our center between January 2018 and January 2024. RESULTS: In all, of the 93 endometrial carcinoma patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, 63 were classified as low-risk, while 30 were high-risk according to the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. We found sentinel lymph nodes in both low-risk and high-risk patients, with an overall sensitivity of 96.32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 85.12-99.71), specificity of 100% (95%CI, 92.20-99.8), negative predictive value of 96.72% (95%CI, 87.03-99.89), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.06 (95%CI, 0.01-0.36). CONCLUSION: After evaluating our data retrospectively, we determined that we were compatible with the current literature.

Sentinel node mapping decreases the risk of failed detection of isolated positive para-aortic lymph node in endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Isolated positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer is an uncommon event, ranging from 1% to 3%. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the impact of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping on the risk of isolated positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a series of 426 patients who underwent SLN mapping with at least one SLN detected from January 2013 to December 2021 (SLN group) compared with a historical series of 209 cases who underwent a systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy between June 2007 and April 2015 (LND group). Isolated para-aortic lymph node metastasis recurrences were included in the SLN group analysis. RESULTS: In the SLN group, 168 cases (39.4%) had backup systematic lymphadenectomy, and 56 (13.1%) had positive lymph nodes compared with 34 (16.3%) in LND group (p=0.18). The SLN group had higher rates of minimally invasive surgeries (p<0.001) and presence of lymphovascular space invasion (p<0.001). Moreover, SLN group had fewer other uterine risk factors, such as high-grade tumors (p<0.001), and deep myometrial invasion (p<0.001). We found that SLN mapped outside the pelvis at pre-sacral, common iliac areas, and para-aortic regions in 2.8% (n=12), 11.5% (n=49), and 1.6% (n=7) of cases, respectively. Overall, 52 (12.2%) patients had positive SLNs, and 3 (5.7%) positive SLNs were found outside the pelvis-one in the pre-sacral region, one in the common iliac area, and one in the para-aortic region. An isolated para-aortic lymph node was found in only 2 (0.5%) cases in the SLN group compared with 7 (3.3%) cases in the LND group (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: SLN protocol accurately predicts lymph node status and may decrease the risk of failed identification of isolated para-aortic lymph node metastasis compared with systematic lymphadenectomy.

Sentinel lymph node mapping with indocyanine green using SPY-PHI in open radical hysterectomy or trachelectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the detection rate of at least one sentinel lymph node (SLN) in patients with early cervical cancer who underwent open radical hysterectomy or trachelectomy using indocyanine green (ICG) with the SPY Portable Handler Imager (SPY-PHI) system. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with cervical cancer FIGO 2018 stage IA1 with lymphovascular invasion up to stage IIIC1p who underwent SLN mapping and open radical hysterectomy or trachelectomy from March 2018 through August 2022 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. ICG was the only tracer used with the SPY-PHI system. Patient demographics, surgical approach, and tumor factors were analyzed. Overall detection, bilateral detection, and empty lymph node packet rates were determined. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were included. Ninety-four (88.7%) patients underwent open radical hysterectomy and 12 (11.3%) open radical trachelectomy. Median age was 40 years (range, 23-71). Median body mass index was 28.8 kg/m2 (range, 17.6-48.4). The most common FIGO 2018 stages were IB1 (35%) and IB2 (30%). The most common histologic subtypes were squamous cell carcinoma (45%) and adenocarcinoma (45%). Most patients had grade 2 disease (61%) and no lymphovascular invasion (58%). Median tumor size was 1.8 cm (range, 0.3-4). Median number of detected SLN was 4 (range, 0-12). An SLN was identified during surgery in 104 patients (98%), with bilateral mapping in 94 (89%) and unilateral mapping in 10 (9%). The empty lymph node packet rate was 4 (3.8%). The external iliac (73%) was the most common site of SLN detection. Fourteen patients had positive lymph nodes (13.5%); 3 (21.4%) had macrometastases, 9 (64.3%) had micrometastases, and 2 (14.3%) had isolated tumor cells. CONCLUSION: SLN mapping using ICG with the SPY-PHI system in open radical hysterectomy or trachelectomy is reliable and results in high overall and bilateral detection rates in patients with early cervical cancer.

Evaluation of the efficacy of using indocyanine green associated with fluorescence in sentinel lymph node biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the technique recommended for the axillary staging of patients with breast cancer in the initial stages without clinical axillary involvement. Three techniques are widely used globally to detect sentinel lymph nodes: patent blue, the radiopharmaceutical technetium 99 with gamma probe, and the combination of these two. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sentinel lymph node detection rate with an innovative technique: indocyanine green (ICG) associated with fluorescence in breast cancer patients, and compare it with patent blue and a combination of patent blue and indocyanine green. METHODS: 99 patients were sequentially (not randomly) allocated into 3 arms with 33 patients submitted to sentinel lymph node techniques. One arm underwent patent blue dying, the other indocyanine green, and the third received a combination of both. The detection rates between arms were compared. RESULTS: The detection rate in identifying the sentinel lymph node was 78.8% with patent blue, 93.9% with indocyanine green, and 100% with the combination. Indocyanine green identified two sentinel nodes in 48.5% of patients; the other groups more commonly had only one node identified. The mean time to sentinel lymph node identification was 20.6 ± 10.7 SD (standard deviation) minutes among patients submitted to the patent blue dye, 8.6 ± 6.6 minutes in the indocyanine green arm, and 10 ± 8.9 minutes in the combined group (P<0.001; Student's test). The mean surgery time was 69.4 ± 16.9; 55.1 ± 13.9; and 69.4 ± 19.3 minutes respectively (P<0.001; Student's test). CONCLUSIONS: The sentinel lymph node detection rate by fluorescence using indocyanine green was 93.9%, considered adequate. The rates using patent blue, indocyanine green, and patent blue plus indocyanine green (combined) were significantly different, and the indocyanine green alone is also acceptable, since it has a good performance in sentinel lymph node identification and it can avoid tattooing, with a 100% sentinel lymph node detection rate when combined with patent blue.

Current management of patients with cutaneous melanoma with a positive sentinel lymph node.

INTRODUCTION: Immediate completion lymph node dissection (CLND) performed in patients with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) cutaneous melanoma is not associated with improved melanoma specific survival versus active surveillance (AS) using nodal ultrasound. Clinical practice experience and outcomes of AS and adjuvant therapy is now starting to be published in literature. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with a positive-SLNB between June/2017-February/2022. Impact of management on any-site recurrence free survival (RFS), isolated nodal recurrence (INR), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) was evaluated. RESULTS: From 126 SLNB, 31 (24.6%) were positive: 24 received AS and 7 CLND. Twenty-one (68%) received adjuvant therapy (AS, 67% and CLND, 71%). With a median follow-up of 18 months, 10 patients developed recurrent disease with an estimated 2-yr RFS of 73% (CI95%, 0.55-0.86) (30% in AS group vs. 43% in dissection group; P = 0.65). Four died of melanoma with an estimated 2-yr MSS of 82% (CI 95%, 0.63-0.92) and no differences between AS and CLND groups (P = 0.21). Estimated 2-yr DMFS of the whole cohort was 76% (CI 95%, 0.57-0.88) with no differences between groups (P = 0.33). CONCLUSION: Active surveillance strategy has been adopted for most positive-SLNB cutaneous melanoma patients. Adjuvant therapy without immediate CLND was delivered in nearly 70% of patients. Our results align with outcomes of randomized control trials and previous real-world data.

Introducción: La linfadenectomía inmediata (LI) realizada en pacientes con biopsia de ganglio centinela (BGC) positivo por melanoma cutáneo no está asociada a mejoría en la supervivencia libre de enfermedad vs. vigilancia activa (VA). Resultados oncológicos y experiencia en la práctica clínica con dicha conducta asociados a tratamiento adyuvante comienzan a ser publicados en la literatura. Métodos: Análisis retrospectivo incluyendo pacientes con BGC-positiva por melanoma cutáneo entre junio/2017-febrero/2022. Se evaluó impacto del manejo en: supervivencia libre de recurrencia (SLR), recurrencia ganglionar aislada (RGA), supervivencia libre de metástasis a distancia (SLMD) y supervivencia libre de enfermedad (SLE). Resultados: De 126 pacientes, 31 (24.6%) fueron positivos: en 24 se realizó VA y en 7 LI. Veintiún pacientes (68%) recibieron tratamiento adyuvante (VA, 67% y LI, 71%). Con una media de seguimiento de 18 meses, 10 pacientes presentaron recurrencia de la enfermedad con una SLR estimada a 2 años del 73% (CI95%, 0.55-0.86) (30% en VA vs. 43% en LI; P = 0.65). Cuatro murieron de melanoma con una SLE a 2 años del 82% (CI 95%, 0.63-0.92); sin diferencia entre ambos grupos (P = 0.21). La SLMD a 2 años de toda la cohorte fue de 76% (CI 95%, 0.57-0.88; P = 0.33). Conclusión: La vigilancia activa se ha adoptado como conducta para la mayoría de los pacientes con BGCpositivo. El tratamiento adyuvante sin linfadenectomía inmediata se realizó en cerca del 70% de nuestra serie. Los resultados de nuestra serie son similares a los reportados en la literatura.

Ganglio centinela positivo en melanoma: factores predictivos y resultados del vaciamiento ganglionar / Positive sentinel lymph node in melanoma: predictive factors and results of completion lymph node dissection

RESUMEN Antecedentes: la biopsia del ganglio centinela (GC) es la técnica aceptada para determinar el pronóstico en estadios iniciales de melanoma cutáneo. La ventaja del vaciamiento ganglionar (VG) cuando el GC resulta positivo ha sido recientemente cuestionada. Objetivo: describir los porcentajes y factores asociados a metástasis en el GC, y en los ganglios no centinela (GnC) en los VG de pacientes con GC positivo. Material y métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo de los registros clínicos y patológicos de 139 pacientes operados por melanoma cutáneo entre enero de 2012 y diciembre de 2019. Resultados: a 96 (69%) pacientes se les realizó biopsia de GC. El promedio de edad fue 61,7 años ± 17,5 (19-93); 53 (55,2%) fueron hombres. La lesión primaria estuvo ubicada en: extremidades 47 (49%), tronco 39 (40,6%), cabeza y cuello 10 (10,4%). El promedio de espesor de Breslow fue 5,01 mm (1,05- 50 mm) y se encontró ulceración en 35 casos (36,4%). El GC fue identificado en todas las oportunidades y en 39 (40,6%) fue positivo. Hubo asociación con el espesor ≥ 3 mm (p = 0,000017) y con la ulceración (p = 0,0011). A los pacientes con GC positivo se les efectuó el VG del territorio afectado: 23 axilar, 10 inguinal y 6 cervical. Veintitrés (59%) presentaron metástasis en GnC. Se asoció con el espesor (p = 0,022) y la ulceración (p = 0,019). Conclusión: existió un alto porcentaje de GnC positivos en la población estudiada, vinculado al espesor y la ulceración. Estas características, así como la dificultad de un estricto seguimiento, inducen a no abandonar el VG en pacientes con GC positivo.

ABSTRACT Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the technique accepted to determine the prognosis of early cutaneous melanomas. The advantage of lymph node dissection (LND) when SLN biopsy is positive has recently been questioned. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the percentages and factors associated with SLN and non-sentinel node (NSN) metastases in LNDs of SLN-positive patients. Material and methods: The clinical records and pathology reports of 139 patients undergoing surgery for cutaneous melanoma between January 2012 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Ninety-six (69%) patients underwent SLN biopsy. Mean age was 61.7 ± 17.5 years (19-93) and 53 (55.2%) were men. The primary lesion was located in the extremities in 47 (49%) cases, in the trunk in 39 (40.6%), and in the head and neck in 10 (10.4%). Mean Breslow thickness was 5.01 mm (1.05-50 mm) and ulceration was found in 35 cases (36.4%). The SLN was identified in all the cases and was positive in 39 (40.6%). There was an association with thickness ≥ 3 mm (p = 0.000017) and ulceration (p = 0.0011). Those patients with positive SLN biopsy underwent LND of the territory involved: axillary in 23, inguinal in 10 and cervical in 6. Twenty-three (59%) presented NSLN metastases and were associated with thickness (p = 0.022) and ulceration (p = 0.019). Conclusion: There was a high percentage of positive NSLN in the population studied which was associated with thickness and ulceration. These characteristics and the difficulty to achieve strict follow-up are the reasons for completion LND in SLN-positive patients.

Sentinel lymph node mapping versus sentinel lymph node mapping with systematic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomized trial (ALICE trial).

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggest that sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in endometrial cancer accurately detects lymph node metastasis. However, prospective randomized trials addressing the oncological outcomes of SLN biopsy in endometrial cancer without lymphadenectomy are lacking. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to confirm that SLN biopsy without systematic node dissection does not negatively impact oncological outcomes. STUDY HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that there is no survival benefit in adding systematic lymphadenectomy to sentinel node mapping for endometrial cancer staging. Additionally, we aim to evaluate morbidity and impact in quality of life (QoL) after forgoing systematic lymphadenectomy. TRIAL DESIGN: This is a collaborative, multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized trial. After total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and SLN biopsy, patients will be randomized (1:1) into: (a) no further lymph node dissection or (b) systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. MAJOR INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria are patients with high-grade histologies (endometrioid G3, serous, clear cell, and carcinosarcoma), endometrioid G1 or G2 with imaging concerning for myometrial invasion of ≥50% or cervical invasion, clinically suitable to undergo systematic lymphadenectomy. PRIMARY ENDPOINTS: The primary objective is to compare 3-year disease-free survival and the secondary objectives are 5-year overall survival, morbidity, incidence of lower limb lymphedema, and QoL after SLN mapping ± systematic lymphadenectomy in high-intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer. SAMPLE SIZE: 178 participants will be randomized in this study with an estimated date for completing accrual of December 2024 and presenting results in 2027. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03366051.

Pathological factors associated with non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in early stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predictive factors for non-sentinel lymph node (non-SLN) metastasis in early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: We analyzed a series of 113 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for cervical cancer. The SLNs were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) when the hematoxylin-eosin stain was negative. RESULTS: The overall bilateral detection rate was 81.5%, with a median of two SLNs resected. The study ultimately included 92 patients with SLNs that were mapped who had also undergone systematic pelvic lymph node dissection. Thirteen (14.1%) patients had positive SLNs, with a median of one positive SLN. Regarding the size of SLN metastasis, one (1.1%) had isolated tumor cells (ITC), seven (7.6%) had micrometastases, and five (5.4%) had macrometastases. Notably, 46.1% (6/13) had lymph node metastases detected only after IHC. Five (38.5%) cases had positive non-SLNs, with a median count of one positive lymph node. Parametrial invasion was the only risk factor for positive non-SLN (p = .045). Regarding the size of SLN metastasis, non-SLN involvement was present in the only case with ITC (1/1), 42.9% (3/7) of cases with micrometastases, and in 20% (1/5) with macrometastases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that parametrial invasion correlates with the risk of non-SLN metastasis in cervical cancer.

Impact of Sentinel Node Mapping in Decreasing the Risk of Lymphocele in Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the growing evidence of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in endometrial cancer (EC), our aim was to evaluate the impact of SLN mapping and other clinical-pathological variables in the risk of developing lymphocele. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a series of patients with ECs who underwent lymph node staging with SLN mapping with or without systematic pelvic ± para-aortic lymphadenectomy from November 2012 to January 2020. The lymphocele diagnosis was performed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Of 348 patients included, 178 underwent SLN mapping only and 170 underwent SLN mapping and systematic lymphadenectomy (46.5% pelvic only; 53.5% pelvic and para-aortic). Seventy-three (21%) patients had open surgery and 275 (79%) had a minimally invasive approach. After a median follow-up of 25.4 months, the overall prevalence of lymphocele was 8.6% (n = 30), with 29 cases in a pelvic location. Lymphocele was found in 3.4% (n = 6/178) of patients submitted to SLN mapping only, compared with 14.1% (n = 24/170) among those who underwent SLN with lymphadenectomy (p = 0.009). Among those patients with lymphocele, seven (23.3%) were symptomatic and five (16.6%) required drainage. All symptomatic cases occurred in lymphoceles larger than 4 cm (p = 0.001). Neither resected lymph node count nor the type of systematic lymphadenectomy were related to the presence of lymphocele. Systematic lymphadenectomy was the only factor that emerged as a risk factor for the presence of lymphocele in multivariate analysis (odds ratio 3.68, 95% confidence interval 1.39-9.79; p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that SLN mapping independently decreases the risk of lymphocele formation compared with full lymphadenectomy in EC.

Sentinel Node Status is the Most Important Prognostic Information for Clinical Stage IIB and IIC Melanoma Patients.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for melanoma patients has been questioned. We aimed to study high-risk stage II melanoma patients who underwent SNB to determine what the prognostic factors regarding recurrence and mortality were, and evaluate how relevant SNB status is in this scenario. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical stage IIB/IIC melanoma patients who underwent SNB from 2000 to 2015 in a single institution. Prognostic factors related to distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were assessed from multiple Cox regression. Relevant variables were used to create risk predictor nomograms for DRFS and MSS. RESULTS: From 1213 SNB, 259 were performed for clinical stage IIB/IIC melanoma patients. SNB status was the most important variable for both endpoints. Patients with positive SNB presented median DRFS of 35.73 months (95% CI 21.38-50.08, SE 7.32) and median MSS of 66.4 months (95% CI 29.76-103.03, SE 18.69), meanwhile both median DRFS and MSS were not achieved for those with negative SNB (logrank < 0.0001). Both nomograms have been internally validated and presented adequate calibration (C-index was 0.734 for DRFS and 0.718 for MSS). CONCLUSIONS: SNB status was the most important risk factor in our cohort of clinical stage IIB and IIC patients and, in conjunction with well-established primary tumor characteristics, should not be abandoned. Their use in prognosis for these patients remains extremely useful for daily practice.

Near Infrared (NIR) Fluorescence is Not a Substitute for Lymphoscintigraphy and Gamma Probe for Melanoma Sentinel Node Detection: Results from a Prospective Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the standard care for early detection and staging of lymph node metastasis in melanomas. Radiocolloids (RC) and blue dyes are used for SLN detection. Recently, near infrared (NIR) fluorescence tracing using indocyanine green has been developed as an alternative method for SLN detection. The relatively high tissue penetration depth of several millimeters and the ability to detect low concentrations of tracer both suggest that NIR may have significant advantages over RC and the blue dye methods. The objective of this study was to prospectively compare the performance of all three SLN detection techniques using them sequentially to evaluate the same group of patients. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one primary cutaneous melanoma patients with an indication for SLN biopsy were assigned to the procedure following NIR, blue dye, and RC detection techniques. RESULTS: No adverse event was reported. SLN was not detected in only 4.1% of cases. In 90.9%, an SLN was identified with NIR, but without any auxiliary technique in only 70.2% of cases. RC detected the SLN in 92.6% of cases. Patent blue was found in the sentinel node in 76.9%. The combination of all three techniques detected an SLN in 95.9% of cases. Metastases were present in 26.7%. The false-negative rate was 8.8%, with a negative predictive value of 91.2%. CONCLUSIONS: RC was the only technique with high SLN detection. Both the blue dye and NIR methods added sensitivity to the detection rate but should not be a substitute for RC.

Size of Sentinel Node Metastasis Predicts Non-sentinel Node Involvement in Endometrial Cancer.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between the size of metastatic sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and the risk of non-sentinel lymph node (non-SLN) metastasis in endometrial cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a total of 328 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent SLN mapping from January 2013 to April 2019, 142 patients also underwent systematic completion pelvic ± paraaortic node dissections, and they form the basis of this study. The SLNs were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) when the hematoxylin-eosin stain was negative. RESULTS: The median age was 60 years. The overall detection rate for SLNs was 87.5%, and bilateral SLNs were observed in 66.2%, with a median of 2 SLNs resected (range 1-8). Twenty-nine (20.4%) cases had positive SLNs, with a median of one positive SLN. Regarding the size of SLN metastasis, 5 (3.5%) cases had isolated tumor cells (ITCs), 13 (9.2%) had micrometastases, and 11 (7.7%) had macrometastases. Notably, 14/29 (48.3%) had node metastases that were detected after IHC. Eight (27.6%) patients had positive non-SLNs, with a median count of 7 positive nodes (range 2-23). Regarding the size of SLN metastasis, non-SLN involvement was not present in cases with ITC (0/5) but was present in 15.4% (2/13) of cases with micrometastases and 54.5% (6/11) of cases with macrometastases. The only risk factor for positive non-SLNs was the size of SLN metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that size of SLN metastasis is associated with the risk of non-SLN metastasis. No patients with ITCs in SLNs had another metastatic lymph node in this study.

Resultados preliminares en la implementación de una técnica de detección de ganglio centinela en cáncer de cuello uterino y endometrio en un hospital público y centro formador en chile / Preliminary results in the implementation of a sentinel node detection technique in cervical and endometrial cancer in a public hospital and training center in Chile

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar el rendimiento diagnóstico de la técnica de azul patente (disponible en todo el territorio nacional) en el ganglio centinela para la estadificación del cáncer cérvico uterino y en-dometrial. Método Estudio prospectivo realizado entre enero de 2014 y diciembre de 2018. Se evaluó la técnica de azul patente para la detección de ganglio centinela en la estadificación del cáncer cérvico uterino y endometrial, antes de la linfadenectomía pélvica estándar. La inyección del azul patente se aplicó en el cuello uterino (1 cc 1 cm de profundidad y 1 cc superficial) a las 3 y 9 horas, 20 minutos antes del inicio de la cirugía (laparotomía o laparoscópica). La identifica-ción y extracción del ganglio centinela fue realizado por un ginecólogo oncólogo certificado y evaluado mediante histología tradicional con hematoxilina y eosina (H&E). Resultado Se realiza-ron un total de 80 cirugías. El ganglio centinela se identificó en 75 (94%) pacientes, 60 (75%) bilateralmente; Con una detección media de 1,9 nodos por paciente. El sitio de identificación más frecuente fue la fosa obturatriz (43,9%), seguida de los vasos ilíacos externos. Otro 2,6% de los nodos fueron encontrados en sitios poco comunes. Entre los ganglios linfáticos seleccio-nados, 10 casos fueron positivos para el cáncer. No hubo ganglio centinela falso negativo. La tasa de detección fue del 83%, con una especificidad del 95%. Conclusiones Los datos aquí expuestos nos permiten estandarizar e implementar el uso de gan-glio centinela con azul patente. El uso de GC adecua la cirugía a la necesidad de la paciente, con una clara disminución en la incidencia de complicaciones asociadas a la linfadenectomía. Este trabajo forma parte de un estudio inicial el cual se debe complementar con el uso de la tin-ción de verde de indocianina y el estudio anatomo patológico con ultraestadiaje para obtener una validación e implementación adecuada del GC en la etapificación en cáncer de cérvix y endo-metrio.

SUMMARY Objective To assess the diagnostic performance of patent blue dye technique (available in the whole country) in sentinel lymph node for cervical and endometrial cancer staging. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted between January 2014 to December 2018. Patent blue dye technique was assessed for the detection of sentinel lymph node in cervical and endometrial cancer staging, before standard pelvic lymphadenectomy. Blue dye injection was applied in the cervix (1cc 1cm deep and 1cc superficial) at 3 and 9 hour, 20 minutes prior start-ing a surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopic). The sentinel lymph node was collected by a certified surgeon and assessed by traditional histologic hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results A total of 80 surgeries were performed. The sentinel lymph node was identified in 75 (94%) patients, 60 (75%) bilaterally; with an average detection of 1,9 nodes per patient. The most common site of identifi-cation was the obturator fossa, followed by the external iliac vessels (43,9%). 2,6% of the nodes were found in uncommon sites. 10 lymph nodes were cancer-positive. There were no false neg-ative sentinel node.Overall in our cohort the detection rate was 83% for specificity 95%. Conclusions Our data presented in this publication allow us to safely standardize and implement a sentinel lymph node technique with patent blue. This technique will allow us to adapt the sur-gery for the patient's needs, diminishing the incidence of complications associated with lym-phadenectomy. This is the first stage of our work which we must complement with indocyanine green and pathological study with ultrastaging to obtain an adequate validation and implementa-tion of sentinel node in cervical and endometrial cancer staging.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Past and Present Implications for the Management of Cutaneous Melanoma with Nodal Metastasis.

Although significant progress has been made in the understanding of melanoma pathophysiology and therapy, patients with metastatic melanoma still have a poor prognosis. The management of regional nodes remains a matter of debate. By replacing elective lymph node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy has revolutionized the treatment of malignant melanoma. In this paper, the history of the procedure is traced, and the indication for completion lymphadenectomy after positive sentinel node biopsy is discussed in light of the recent studies that addressed this issue. The role of adjuvant therapies in the management of patients with stage III melanoma is also discussed.

In transit sentinel node drainage as a prognostic factor for patients with cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Minor basin or in transit node drainage can be found in patients with cutaneous melanoma who undergo sentinel node biopsy. Its clinical impact is still unclear. Our objective is to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients who presented with in transit sentinel node (ITN) drainage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in a single Brazilian institution between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: Our cohort comprised 1223 SNB. There were 64 patients (5.2%) with ITN. Melanoma of the limbs (OR 10.61, P < 0.0001) and acral subtype (OR 3.49, P < 0.0001) were associated with ITN drainage. Among these 64 patients, 14 (21.9%) had a positive SNB. The ITN was positive for metastases in five patients, four in a popliteal basin and one on the trunk. Regarding completion node dissection (CND), two patients had positive non-sentinel nodes (NSN), both in major basins. In patients who developed recurrence, time to recurrence was shorter (mean time 18 vs 31.4 months, P = 0.001) and time to death was shorter (mean time 31.6 vs 40 months, P = 0.039) in those who had ITN drainage. CONCLUSION: ITN drainage was associated with earlier recurrences and deaths from melanoma.