Update on the sentinel lymph node procedure in vulvar cancer

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2010 Jan;10(1):61-9. doi: 10.1586/era.09.125.

Abstract

Currently, standard treatment for early-stage vulvar cancer typically includes wide local excision of the primary tumor and inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. The morbidity of this treatment is high. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure provides us with a technique for determining the status of the regional lymph nodes with less treatment-related morbidity. Recently, a large multicenter observational study provided level 3 evidence indicating that it appears safe to omit inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in case of a negative SLN. This review focuses on the different aspects of the SLN procedure in vulvar cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision / adverse effects
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / methods*
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / surgery*