Lymphatic mapping for gynecologic malignancies.

In gynecologic malignancies, regional lymph node status is a major prognostic factor and a decision criterion for adjuvant therapy. This is the basis for lymphadenectomy. The sentinel node (SN) procedure has emerged as an alternative to systematic lymphadenectomy in various cancers, reducing treatment-related morbidity. In melanoma and breast cancer, SN biopsy is the standard procedure for determining nodal stage. Use of the SN procedure is also well established in vulvar cancer. In small series, combined SN detection based on blue dye and radiocolloid was suitable for the evaluation of lymph node status in cervical cancer. Although some investigators have reported the feasibility of the SN procedure in endometrial cancer, further studies and standardization are required before its routine use can be recommended.