Abstract
Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the detection rate, false-negative rate and sensitivity of SLN in LN staging in tumors over 2 cm on a large cohort of patients.
Methods. Data from patients with stages pT1a - pT2 cervical cancer who underwent surgical treatment, including SLN biopsy followed by systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy, were retrospectively analyzed.
A combined technique with blue dye and radiocolloid was modified in larger tumors to inject the tracer into the residual cervical stroma. Results.
The study included 350 patients with stages pTla - pT2. Macrometastases, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells were found in 10%, 8%, and 4% of cases.
Bilateral detection rate was similar in subgroups with tumors = 4 cm (79%, 83%, 76%) (P = 0.460). There were only two cases with false-negative SLN ultrastaging for pelvic IN status among those with bilateral SLN detection.
The false negative rate was very low in all three subgroups of different tumor sizes (0.9%, 0.9%, and 0.0%; P = 0.999). Sensitivity reached 96% in the whole group and was high in all three groups (93%, 93%, 100%; P = 0.510).
Conclusions. If the tracer application technique is adjusted in larger tumors, SIN biopsy can be equally reliable in pelvic IN staging in tumors smaller and larger than 2 cm.
The bilateral detection rate and false negative rate did not differ in subgroups of patients with tumors < 2 cm, 2-3.9 cm, and cm.