Sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with resectable gastric cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) biopsy in the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out based on the data of 46 patients who had received D2 gastrectomy from January 2003 to June 2006. The SLNs stained by methylene blue were resected for biopsy. Results The success rate of SLNs biopsy was 83% (38/46). The sensitivity, false-negative rate, accuracy, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predic-tive value of SLNs were 69% (18/26), 31% (8/26), 79% (30/38), 100% (12/12), 60% (12/20) and 100% (12/12). The sensitivity, accuracy and negative predictive value were 100% in patients with tumor in pT1 stage or TNM I stage, or with the diameters of the tumors under 4 era. The tumor site, and the degree of lymph node metastasis affected the success rate of biopsy, and the invasion depth, clinical stage and the degree of lymph node metastasis affected the sensitivity, accuracy and negative predictive value of biopsy. Conclusions The application of sentinel lymph node biopsy using methylene blue in gastrie cancer is feasible. The sensitivity, accuracy and reliability are high in patients at early stage of gastric cancer.