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Surgeons Corner
Is There a Place for Sentinel Technique in Treatment of Vaginal Cancer?: Feasibility, Clinical Experience, and Results
  1. Hermann Hertel, MD*,
  2. Philipp Soergel, MD*,
  3. Johanna Muecke*,
  4. Michael Schneider, MD†,
  5. Frank Papendorf‡,
  6. Florian Laenger, MD§,
  7. Klaus-Friedrich Gratz, MD∥ and
  8. Peter Hillemanns, MD*
  1. *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
  2. †Institut of Biometry,
  3. ‡Tumour Centre,
  4. §Institute of Pathology, and
  5. ∥Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Hermann Hertel, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany. E-mail: hertel.hermann{at}mh-hannover.de.

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique and the role of single-photon emission computed tomography with CT (SPECT/CT) compared to lymphoscintigraphy for detection of SLN in vaginal cancer.

Methods The study was performed in a prospective, unicentric setting. Patients with vaginal carcinoma were scheduled for surgery and SLN labeling by peritumoral injection of 10-MBq technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid and patent blue. After 30 minutes, lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT were carried out. We evaluated the number of SLNs in lymphoscintigraphy, SPECT/CT, and intraoperative histology of SLN and non-SLN as well as the impact of these results to therapeutic approach.

Results Between January 2009 and December 2012, the SLN technique was used for 7 of 11 patients treated due to vaginal cancer. Detection rate was 100% (7/7). Lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT showed at least one SLN in each patient. Lymphoscintigraphy detected 2.6 SLNs (range, 2–4 SLNs) per patient compared to 4.3 SLNs (range, 2–8 SLNs) in SPECT/CT (P = 0.053). Sentinel lymph nodes were detected in all patients during surgery with a mean number of 4.3 (range, 1–5). Pelvic SLNs were detected in all 6 patients with infiltration of middle or proximal vaginal third (100%). If the distal vaginal third was additional (3/7 patients) or exclusively (1/7 patients) infiltrated, the inguinal SLN detection rate was 33% and 100%, respectively. All patients with nodal metastases had at least one SLN positive for tumor. There were no false negatives. In 2 (29%) of 7 patients, treatment approach was modified owing to affected SLN.

Conclusion The SLN technique was favorably used in vaginal cancer in this series. It assists in identifying an inguinal and/or pelvic lymphatic drainage. When performed accurately (technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid, lymphoscintigraphy and/or SPECT/CT, blue dye), this technique predicts regional nodal status. This allows tumor stage–adjusted therapy. Single photon emission computed tomography/CT improves preoperative planning and facilitates detection, thus enhancing the clinical value of the SLN technique and improving the oncologic safety of surgery.

  • Vaginal cancer
  • Sentinel concept
  • SPECT/CT

https://doi.org/10.1097/IGC.0b013e3182a65455

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    Footnotes

    • The authors declare no conflicts of interest.