RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The European Association of Urologists recommends dynamic sentinel node biopsy (DSNB) as the first choice diagnostic approach for lymph node staging of non-palpable inguinal lymph nodes in penile carcinoma. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of minimally invasive inguinal DSNB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2004 and 2012 DSNB was used in all patients with invasive penile carcinoma and non-palpable inguinal lymph nodes. For assessment of reliability the rate of false negative results was determined and complications were documented. The results were analyzed prospectively. RESULTS: In the study period DSNB was performed in a total of 29 patients and it was possible to prove lymph node metastasis in 2 patients with 1 patient who developed lymph node metastasis after a negative DSNB. Thus the false negative rate was 3.70 %. A morbidity rate of 3.45 % was also observed. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a reliable diagnostic method. The sophisticated requirements both methodologically and logistically suggest that this procedure should only be performed in specialized centres.