Abstract

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cervical cancer is used to reduce the morbidity of a full lymph node dissection while improving the pickup rate of metastatic lymph nodes. The higher detection rate achieved can be explained by the following: the identification of the sentinel lymph node in an aberrant location which would not be routinely included in a systematic pelvic lymph node dissection, the sentinel lymph node is completely excised, and the routine use of ultrastaging. The higher detection rate achieved through sentinel lymph node biopsy can identify additional patients who could potentially benefit from adjuvant therapy therefore, in our view the gold standard of lymph node assessment in early stage cervical cancer has shifted and sentinel lymph node biopsy has taken the place of a complete lymphadenectomy.