Establishing a sentinel lymph node mapping algorithm for the treatment of early cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an algorithm that incorporates sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping to the surgical treatment of early cervical cancer, ensuring that lymph node (LN) metastases are accurately detected but minimizing the need for complete lymphadenectomy (LND). METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent SLN procedure followed by a complete bilateral pelvic LND for cervical cancer (FIGO stages IA1 with LVI to IIA) from 03/2003 to 09/2010 was analyzed. The surgical algorithm we evaluated included the following: 1. SLNs are removed and submitted to ultrastaging; 2. any suspicious LN is removed regardless of mapping; 3. if only unilateral mapping is noted, a contralateral side-specific pelvic LND is performed (including inter-iliac nodes); and 4. parametrectomy en bloc with primary tumor resection is done in all cases. We retrospectively applied the algorithm to determine how it would have performed. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two patients were included. Median SLN count was 3 and median total LN count was 20. At least one SLN was identified in 93% of cases (114/122), while optimal (bilateral) mapping was achieved in 75% of cases (91/122). SLN correctly diagnosed 21 of 25 patients with nodal spread. When the algorithm was applied, all patients with LN metastasis were detected; with optimal mapping, bilateral pelvic LND could have been avoided in 75% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the surgical treatment of early cervical cancer, the algorithm we propose allows for comprehensive detection of all patients with nodal disease and spares complete LND in the majority of cases.

A prospective study of the accuracy of 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG PET) in identifying sites of metastasis prior to pelvic exenteration.

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of (18)FDG PET in identifying sites of metastatic disease prior to pelvic exenteration or radical resection in patients (pts) with recurrent cervical or vaginal cancers. METHODS: Pts with recurrent cervical or vaginal cancer being evaluated for surgical resection were enrolled in a prospective study approved by the institutional human subjects review board. All patients underwent (18)FDG PET scans as well as CT and/or MRI scans and were required to have pathologic confirmation of any sites suggestive of tumor recurrence. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2002 a total of 27 pts were enrolled on the study. Seven patients did not complete all study requirements and are excluded from further analysis. All pts had undergone prior pelvic radiation therapy and five patients had also received chemotherapy. CT/MRI scans identified three patients with possible metastatic disease in the following sites: (1) iliac nodes (2 pts) and (2) lungs (1 pt). After surgical and pathological evaluation, only one of these sites, the lungs, was confirmed to have metastatic disease. PET scans identified possible metastatic disease in nine patients and included the following sites: (1) pelvic nodes (4 pts), (2) para-aortic nodes (2 pts), (3) axillary node (1 pt), (4) bowel wall (1 pt) and (5) lungs (1 pt). After surgical and pathologic evaluation metastatic disease was identified in five of these pts at the following sites: iliac nodes, 2; para-aortic nodes, 1; bowel wall, 1; and lungs, 1. Of the sites identified by PET scan as areas of metastasis CT scan only identified the pulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSION: (18)FDG PET was found to have a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 73% in detecting sites of extra-pelvic metastasis and may be the most accurate test to determine eligibility for pelvic exenteration.