Sentinel lymph node detection in early stage ovarian cancer: the primary experience in N. N. Blokhin national medical Research Center of Oncology

Abstract

Background. Surgical staging including pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is recommended in patients with clinical early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. The therapeutic role of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is still under debate, this procedure can increase risk of intra- and post-operative complications. using the sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in early stage ovarian cancer in very promising and decreases the level of surgical damage. But nowadays the data on effectiveness, safety sensitivity and specificity of SLN are limited and the technique has to be standardized.Aim. To determine the feasibility of the SLN detection procedure using indocyanine green in early stage ovarian cancer.Materials and methods. four patients with clinical stage I epithelial ovarian cancer underwent SLN detection using indocyanine green. The tracer was injected into hilum of the ovary or ovarian ligament stumps in the case of previous adnexectomy. SLN were detected in infrared spectrum. Systemic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection of the pelvic and paraaortic areas was performed after SLN being removed. frozen section of was not performed in this study.Results. SLN were detected in paraaortic area in three of four patients. no one of patients had metastatic disease.Conclusion. The primary experience demonstrates SLN mapping of the ovary being feasible. Prospective study is required to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of SLn detection in early stage ovarian cancer.