G Canlorbe1, R Rouzier, S Bendifallah, E Chéreau. 1. Service de gynécologie-obstétrique et médecine de la reproduction, hôpital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Vulvar cancer is usually treated with vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy, which result in serious morbidities while only 30% of patients have positive nodes. The sentinel node technique has good sensitivity and specificity for detecting lymph node involvement while minimizing postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific and overall survival impact of sentinel lymph node procedure versus inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in patients with vulvar cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, T1 or T2 stage, metastatis-free, followed between 2004 and 2008. RESULTS: One thousand and thirty eight patients had a systematic groin lymphadenectomy and 56 a sentinel node technique (including 22 with an associated lymphadenectomy because of a positive sentinel node). There is no significant difference in overall or specific survival between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, age, T stage and nodal status are prognostic factors for overall and specific mortality (P<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Sentinel node technique is not associated with an excess risk of mortality or recurrence.
OBJECTIVES:Vulvar cancer is usually treated with vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy, which result in serious morbidities while only 30% of patients have positive nodes. The sentinel node technique has good sensitivity and specificity for detecting lymph node involvement while minimizing postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific and overall survival impact of sentinel lymph node procedure versus inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in patients with vulvar cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database on patients with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, T1 or T2 stage, metastatis-free, followed between 2004 and 2008. RESULTS: One thousand and thirty eight patients had a systematic groin lymphadenectomy and 56 a sentinel node technique (including 22 with an associated lymphadenectomy because of a positive sentinel node). There is no significant difference in overall or specific survival between the two groups. In multivariate analysis, age, T stage and nodal status are prognostic factors for overall and specific mortality (P<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Sentinel node technique is not associated with an excess risk of mortality or recurrence.