Sentinel nodes in gynecologic malignancies

The concept of sentinel node identification and lymphatic mapping is already established as part of standard practice in the surgical management of breast cancer and melanoma. To reduce extensive radical procedures and decrease morbidity in gynecologic malignancies, much effort is being focused on implementing less aggressive interventions. By combining the use of radioactive tracers and blue dyes, investigators are identifying sentinel nodes. In vulvar and cervical carcinomas, sentinel node identification may significantly reduce the number of patients undergoing unnecessary, extensive lymphadenectomy in the absence of disease. The addition of novel techniques, such as histopathologic ultrastaging, immunohistochemistry staining, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays, will help increase the accuracy and rate of detection of disease.