The sentinel node approach in gynaecological malignancies

Angela Collarino; Sergi Vidal-Sicart; Germano Perotti; Renato A Valdés Olmos

doi:10.1007/s40336-016-0187-6

The sentinel node approach in gynaecological malignancies

Clin Transl Imaging. 2016;4(5):411-420. doi: 10.1007/s40336-016-0187-6. Epub 2016 Jun 13.

Authors

Angela Collarino¹, Sergi Vidal-Sicart², Germano Perotti³, Renato A Valdés Olmos⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy ; Nuclear Medicine Section, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
³ Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Nuclear Medicine Section, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands ; Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands ; Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

This review discusses the state-of-the-art of sentinel lymph node mapping in gynaecological malignancies, including cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, and vulvar cancer, with an emphasis on new technological advances. For this objective, PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for relevant studies about the sentinel lymph node procedure in gynaecology. In particular, the use of preoperative lymphatic mapping with lymphoscintigraphy and single photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) was identified in 18 studies. Other recent advances as hybrid tracers (e.g. ICG-^99mTc-nanocolloid) and intraoperative tools (portable γ-camera and 3D navigation devices) appear to also represent a useful guide for the surgeon during the operation. Concerning vulvar and cervical cancers, the sentinel lymph node procedure has been incorporated to the current guidelines in Europe and North America, whereas for endometrial cancer it is considered investigative.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Endometrial cancer; SPECT/CT; Sentinel lymph node; Vulvar cancer.

Publication types

Review