[Localization and pathological examination of sentinel lymph node during operation in gastric cancer].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. METHODS: Thirty- eight patients with gastric cancer were divided into three groups (T(1); T(2); T(3)) according to tumor invasion depth. SLN was localized using methyl blue injection method. Metastatic lymph nodes were detected by immunohistochemical staining of cytokeratin (CK- 19). RESULTS: SLN(S ) were detected in all 38 patients and lymph node metastasis occurred in 18 cases. The sensitivity, false- negative rate, and diagnostic accuracy of SLN for lymph node metastasis were 83.3% 16.7% and 92.1% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 100% in T1 cases without false- negative cases, 94.1% in T(2) cases with one false- negative case, 75% in T(3) cases with two false- negative cases. CONCLUSION: The method of injecting methylene blue around the primary tumor is a feasible method that can determine SLN localization during operation.