Successful Sentinel Lymph Node Research Articles

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Tracer for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Endometrial Cancer.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection has been widely investigated in recent years as a part of the surgical staging of women with endometrial cancer (EC), gradually overtaking lymphadenectomy (LND) in this respect. In this study, thirty EC patients, assumed as stage I, were investigated using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) as a tracer for SLN detection followed by LND. The endpoints of this research were the proportion of successful SLN detection, the average number of SLNs per patient, the percentage of bilaterally detected SLNs, and the proportion of metastatic SLNs. Safety endpoints were the summary of all reported adverse events. SLNs were detected in all cases and bilaterally in 21 patients (70%). The diagnostic accuracy parameters of the SPIO detection of metastatic SLNs evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) demonstrated a sensitivity of 80% and AUC of 0.9 (p < 0.001), confirming the SPIO technique's efficacy in women with EC. No adverse events were reported. SPIO nanoparticles as a tracer for SLN mapping in apparent early-stage EC patients demonstrated satisfactory accuracy parameters and safety; however, these data need to be evaluated by further research.

Robotic-Assisted Surgical Staging with Sentinel Node Biopsy for Apparently Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer Using the Modular Multi-Arm Surgical Robot System Versius® (Cambridge Medical Robots): A Case Series

Objectives: The aim of the study was to report the first cases of surgical staging for apparently early-stage endometrial cancer performed using the Versius® next-generation robotic surgical system (Cambridge Medical Robots [CMR] Surgical, Cambridge, UK). Design: The study used a prospective case series. Participants/Materials: Women who underwent surgical staging, including total hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, for apparently early-stage endometrial cancer using the Versius® next-generation robotic surgical system (CMR Surgical, Cambridge, UK) were included. Setting: The study was conducted at a Gynecologic Oncology Referral Center. Methods: We prospectively recorded data of all consecutive women who underwent the investigated surgical procedure. Results: Fourteen endometrial cancer patients were treated between March and August 2024 at the Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona. The mean age was 69.4 ± 8.7 years, and the average body mass index was 27.2 ± 4.8. SLN biopsy was performed on all patients: 5 patients had unilateral and 9 bilateral successful SLN detection; 6 women underwent systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in the unmapped areas. The median operative time was 122 (min-max, 77–185) minutes, and the median hysterectomy time was 34 (min-max, 18–68) minutes. None of the surgical procedures required conversion to conventional laparoscopic or open surgery for technical reasons, and no intraoperative complications were recorded. No readmissions, reoperations, or deaths were observed during the follow-up (median 102 days, min-max 39–249). Limitations: The limitations of the study are the first experience in a limited study population and the use of methylene blue for SLN mapping. Conclusions: Our preliminary results with the Versius® platform appear encouraging regarding surgical time, blood loss, rate of completion of the robotic procedures, and complications risk. Further studies will confirm the indications, feasibility, and safety of the Versius® surgical robot system for treating apparently early-stage endometrial cancer.

Feasibility and Efficacy of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Gastric Cancer.

Lymph node metastasis is a critical prognostic factor for patients with gastric carcinoma (GC). Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has the potential to identify the initial site of draining lymph node metastasis and reduce the extent of surgical lymphadenectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of SLN mapping in GC. The study enrolled 129 GC patients undergoing total or partial gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy and indocyanine green fluorescence-guided SLN mapping. The primary outcomes were the negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity of SLN mapping. The secondary outcomes were clinicopathologic factors associated with SLN mapping accuracy and successful SLN mapping. The SLN detection rate in this study was 86.8 %. The study had an overall NPV of 83.1 % and an overall sensitivity of 65.8 %. The NPV was found to be significantly higher in the patients with no lymphovascular invasion (LVI) than in those with LVI (96.0 % vs 59.3 %; p < 0.001) and in the patients whose pathologic T (pT) stage lower than 3 than in those whose T stage was 3 or higher (92.0 % vs 66.7 %; p = 0.009). The sensitivity of SLN mapping was 50 % in the patients with no LVI and 33 % in the patients with a pT stage lower than 3. The study results showed that for patients with early-stage GC with no LVI, negative SLN findings may represent a potential additive predictor indicating the absence of regional LN metastasis. However, given the low sensitivity rates noted, further research is needed to identify specific patient populations that may benefit from SLN mapping in GC.

Repeat sentinel lymph node surgery for locally recurrent breast cancer after prior mastectomy.

Current NCCN guidelines discourage repeat sentinel lymph node (SLN) surgery in patients with local recurrence (LR) of breast cancer following prior mastectomy. This study addresses the feasibility and therapeutic impact of this approach. We identified 73 patients managed with repeat SLN surgery for post-mastectomy isolated LR. Lymphatic mapping was performed using radioisotope with or without lymphoscintigraphy and/or blue dye. Successful SLN surgery was defined as retrieval of ≥1 SLN. SLN surgery was successful in 65/73 (89%), identifying a median of 2 (range 1-4) SLNs, with 10/65 (15%) SLN-positive. Among these, 5/10 (50%) proceeded to ALND. In unsuccessful cases, 1/8 (13%) proceeded to ALND. Seven of 10 SLN-positive patients and 50/55 SLN-negative patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was administered in 31 (42%) and endocrine therapy in 50 of 57 HR+ patients (88%). After 28 months median follow-up, eight patients relapsed with the first site local in two, distant in five, and synchronous local/distant in one. No nodal recurrences were observed. SLN surgery for patients with LR post-mastectomy is feasible and informative. This approach appears oncologically sound, decreases axillary dissection rates and may be used to tailor adjuvant radiation target volumes and systemic therapies.

Efficacy of Single-Fraction Postoperative Radiotherapy in Resected, Early-Stage Merkel Cell Carcinoma with High-Risk Features

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with a high recurrence risk. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) improves the local recurrence rate (LRR) in early-stage MCC with risk factors per NCCN guidelines: primary tumor size > 1cm, head/neck (HN) location, immunosuppression, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and positive/narrow surgical margins. Conventionally fractionated PORT (C-PORT, ∼50 Gy in 25 fractions) is often recommended for localized MCC with these risk factors; however, some institutions elect observation. Prior studies suggest LRR of ∼20% for stage I/II MCC with high-risk features managed with surgery alone. C-PORT significantly decreases LRR but may cause significant morbidity and financial toxicity. We have previously reported that single fraction (SF)-PORT with 8 Gy achieves high rates of in-field control both in the metastatic and adjuvant settings with minimal morbidity. Here, we present updated long-term outcomes of SF-PORT, offered as an alternative to C-PORT with the hypothesis that it improves LRR relative to observation while minimizing toxicity, for resected stage I/II MCC. A retrospective, single-institution analysis was completed for stage I/II MCC patients receiving SF-PORT following surgical management. The primary objective was estimating the LRR, defined as recurrence within 2 cm of the primary tumor. Patients with resected, stage I/II MCC with at least one high-risk feature were offered C-PORT as standard of care or SF-PORT as an alternative. Forty-six patients (median age: 74.5; range 50-96 years) received SF-PORT to the primary tumor site at a median 44 days after wide local excision (85%), shave/excisional biopsy (13%), or Mohs (2%). Fifty-four percent of patients had 1 high-risk feature, 35% had 2, and 11% had 3 or more. HN (74%) was the most common primary site, 26% of tumors were > 1cm, 26% were LVI+, and 15% of patients were immunosuppressed (pathological margin status was often not available). There were no local recurrences (LRR = 0%) at a median follow-up time of 2.3 years. In-field locoregional control was 96% (44/46 patients) with 2 in-field, regional recurrences observed in draining nodal basins of HN primary lesions. There were 2 out-of-field regional nodal recurrences (1 patient with IMS; neither received elective nodal SFRT). Of 9 patients who received elective nodal SF-PORT, 8 did not have a successful sentinel lymph node biopsy. No MCC-specific deaths were observed. The most common side effect was in-field, grade 1 erythema (13%); no side effects > grade 1 (CTCAE v5) were noted. SF-PORT is associated with a very low LRR which has proven durable with long-term follow-up. The LRR for SF-PORT appears lower than historical controls treated with surgery alone for patients with resected, stage I/II MCC with high-risk features.

Tumescent anesthesia use for cutaneous malignancies does not impact sentinel node identification but decreases estimated blood loss

Sentinel node biopsy is performed to stage clinically and radiographically occult regional disease in cases of malignancy, including cutaneous cancer such as melanoma. The use of tumescent anesthesia with sentinel node biopsy for cutaneous malignancies has not been well studied. Therefore, we aimed to compare the rate of successful sentinel node identification and estimated blood loss between patients who underwent sentinel node biopsy with and without the use of tumescent anesthesia. A retrospective review was conducted of a prospectively maintained single-institution database of all patients who underwent reconstruction after the extirpation of a cutaneous malignancy over an 18-month period. Patient demographics, tumor histology, and characteristics, indication for and success of sentinel node biopsy, use of tumescent anesthesia, and total estimated blood loss were examined. Sentinel node biopsy was performed in 15 of 39 patients (38.5%) receiving tumescent anesthesia compared with 6 of 26 patients (23.1%) not receiving it (p=0.19). Sentinel node biopsy had a success rate of 100% in the tumescent and nontumescent anesthesia groups. The mean estimated blood loss in the tumescent anesthesia group was 36.7mL versus 59.6mL in the nontumescent anesthesia group (p<0.001). Complication rates were comparable between the tumescent anesthesia (12.8%) and nontumescent anesthesia (19.2%) groups (p=0.48). The use of tumescent anesthesia in cutaneous malignancy extirpation and immediate reconstruction was not associated with a decreased sentinel node identification rate or change in complication rates. However, tumescent anesthesia was associated with a decrease in the estimated blood loss.

Patient factors associated with surgical decision making and successful sentinel node mapping in endometrial cancer staging surgery (2108)

Patient factors associated with surgical decision making and successful sentinel node mapping in endometrial cancer staging surgery (2108)

Sentinel lymph node procedure in early-stage vulvar cancer: Correlation of lymphoscintigraphy with surgical outcome and groin recurrence

IntroductionIn early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) a sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure is regarded successful if at least one SLN is removed with minimal residual radioactivity. An inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy is considered if not all SLNs visualized on lymphoscintigraphy can be found, with subsequent increased morbidity. We correlated lymphoscintigraphy findings with surgical outcome and groin recurrence with focus on number of SLNs found. MethodsThis study concerns a retrospective cohort of 171 women treated for early-stage VSCC who underwent a SLN procedure between 2000 and 2020. The risk of groin recurrence was compared after either a successful or complete SLN procedure, i.e. removal of all SLNs that were visualized on lymphoscintigraphy. ResultsIn 13 (7.6%) groins of 171 patients SLN visualization on lymphoscintigraphy failed. In 230 of the 246 (93.5%) groins in which a SLN was visualized, at least one SLN was found during surgery. In 224 of the 246 (91.1%) groins the SLN procedure was regarded either successful (n = 14) or complete (n = 210). An isolated groin recurrence was documented in 5 out of 192 (2.6%, 95%-CI; 0.34 to 4.9) SLN-negative groins after a median follow-up of 47.0 months. All recurrences were noted in the complete SLN group (5/180 groins). The difference with the successful SLN group (0/12 groins) was not significant. ConclusionRisk of groin recurrence was 2.6% after SLN negative biopsy in early-stage VSCC. The risk appeared not increased if at least one SLN was found with minimal residual radioactivity, in case more SLNs were visualized on lymphoscintigraphy.

Real-time Fluorescent ICG and 99m-Tc Nanocolloid Tracer Navigation in Bilateral Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping of Vulvar Cancer

The effectiveness of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been validated by two prospective trials, GROINS VI and GOG 1731-2. According to ESGO guideline in patients with unifocal tumors with a diameter of <4 cm, in the absence of suspected inguinal lymph nodes, SLN biopsy is recommended. The use of a radioactive tracer is mandatory.2 Using Indocyanine green (ICG) increase the detection of the vulvar sentinel node from 89.7 to 100%3. Aim of this video is to share our experience about the feasibility, safety and usefulness of the surgical identification of SLN in vulvar cancer using real-time fluorescent indocyanine green with 99m-technetium nanocolloid. Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. Tertiary level hospital "IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori", Milano, Italy. A 50-year-old woman was diagnosed with vulvar cancer on biopsy of 1.5 cm size vulvar lesion under the clitoris area and referred to our Operative Unit. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET) showed no extra-vulvar disease. The patient was scheduled for radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal sentinel lymph-node biopsy (SLN). In this video the surgical procedure involved double location of SLN, first with the 99m-technetium detector followed by ICG identification. We used an ICG dilution of 2.5 mg/mL in sterile water and injected 4 mL around the tumor 5-10 min before visualization. First a handheld gamma probe used to identify the location of the SLN(s) with 99m-technetium. The fluorescence imaging was performed by the quest imaging system (FLUOPTICS©, Middenmeer, The Netherlands) that combine autofluorescence and fluorescence perfusion imaging. Second, we carried out the SLN biopsy using a dark mood procedure to identify the IGC tracer. The fluorescence imaging enables the detection of these markers through some millimeters of tissue and ICG has the advantage that is visible through the skin4. This video shows a successful combined 99m-technetium and ICG fluorescence image-guided bilateral SLN biopsy in a vulvar cancer patient using a near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging system (FLUOPTICS©). ICG for SLN mapping appears to be safe in women with vulvar cancer with a satisfactory detection rate. This may help in retaining surgical radicality while minimizing operative complications.

Feasibility of intraoperative injection of radioactive tracer and blue dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy in vulvar cancer

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and success rate of intraoperative injection of radiotracer and blue dye performed by the surgeon without the use of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in clinically early stage vulvar cancer. MethodsAll patients with clinically early stage vulvar cancer who underwent attempted sentinel lymph node biopsy using intraoperative injection of Technetium-99 m (99mTc) tracer and blue dye performed by the surgeon after induction of anesthesia at single academic institution from 12/2009 to 5/2022 were identified. Demographic and clinicopathologic variables were collected. Data were compared using descriptive statistics. ResultsOne hundred sixty-four patients (median age 66.4 years) underwent intraoperative injection of radioactive tracer and dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy. Most patients (n = 156, 95.1%) were white. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 138 cases (84.1%), melanoma for 10 (6.1%), extra-mammary invasive Paget's disease for 11 (6.7%), and other histologies for 5 (3%). A majority of cases were stage I disease on final pathology (n = 119, 72.6%). Most patients (n = 117, 71%) had tumors located within 2 cm of the midline and underwent planned bilateral groin assessment, while 47 (29%) had well lateralized lesions and underwent unilateral groin assessment. For the patients undergoing unilateral groin assessment, 44 of 47 (93.6%) had successful unilateral mapping. Of the patients who underwent bilateral groin assessment, 87 of 117 (74.4%) had successful bilateral mapping, and 26 of 117 (22.2%) had successful unilateral mapping. Of the 26 patients who underwent bilateral assessment but only had unilateral mapping, 19 had unilateral mapping to ipsilateral groin but failed contralateral mapping, six had midline lesions with successful mapping to one groin but failed mapping to the other groin, and one had unilateral mapping to the contralateral groin but not ipsilateral groin. The total successful sentinel lymph node mapping rate in this cohort was 86.5% (243/281 total sentinel lymph node attempts). ConclusionIn this cohort, the overall success rate of sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy was 86.5%. The high rate of successful sentinel lymph node mapping supports the use of intraoperative radiotracer and blue dye injection by trained providers.

Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping with indocyanine green in endometrial cancer: surgeon’s learning curve (cumulative sum analysis)

ObjectivesTo evaluate surgeons’ learning curves for laparoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy in endometrial cancer.MethodsA prospective observational study was performed at the Oncogynecology Center, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Hospital, from...

A comparison of ICG-NIR with blue dye and technetium for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in vulvar cancer.

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure for vulva cancer is a safe alternative to a radical inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy (IFLN) for small unifocal tumours. SLN evaluation through biopsy and ultra-staging has helped gynaecological oncology surgeons improve operative morbidity with no cost to oncologic safety. Established techniques for groin SLN detection and excision in vulvar cancer use 99mTc-nanocolloid radiotracer and blue dye (BD) for identification of the SLN. Indocyanine green (ICG)-near infrared (ICG-NIR) techniques for SLN mapping have proven utility in other gynaecological cancer sites and is gaining interest as a technique for SLN mapping in vulvar cancer METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with unifocal vulvar squamous cell cancers of <40mm lateral diameter and with depth of invasion > 1mm underwent SLN mapping and excision using a combination of 99mTc-nanocolloid, BD and ICG. SLN detection results were recorded on a per-patient and per-groin basis. The success rates SLN for detection by individual tracer substance or combinations of tracer were determined by presence of one or more tracer, detectable in the SLN specimen. 92% of patients had a successful SLN procedure. The per-groin detection rate was 84%. All successfully mapped SLN were identified with the combination of ICG-NIR and 99mTc-nanocolloid compared to 69% with BD 99mTc-nanocolloid. Success rates for the SLN procedure were not dependent on prior excision of the primary lesion or operator experience. Incorporation of ICG-NIR into standard SLN mapping protocols may allow for the abandonment of routine use of BD and its poor side effect profile.

MA04.08 Navigation Bronchoscopy Mediated Sentinel Lymph Node Procedure: an Explorative Study in Ex-vivo Lung Cancer Specimens

When early-stage lung cancer is diagnosed, the treatment of choice is surgical resection of the affected lobe or segment with complete lymph nodal resection, or stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. Despite curative intent, recurrence rates of 9.4% to 28.3% are reported. The implementation of a sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure could possibly enhance staging accuracy by identifying nodes that are most likely to contain metastasis and help select patients for sublobar resections. A condition for a successful SLN procedure is diffusion of a tracer into at least one or more lymph nodes near the tumor.

Does Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Accurately Stage the Clinically Negative Neck in Early Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is being increasingly used worldwide as a minimally invasive option to stage the clinically node-negative neck (N0) in patients with early oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OCSCC). We performed this trial to assess the reliability and validity of the technique. We did this prospective interventional nonrandomized study in patients with early (cT1-T2 OCSCC) and with negative neck. All patients underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy; SLNB was followed immediately by completion neck dissection (CND), thus each patient serving as their own control. The primary outcomes evaluated are sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection rate, SLN retrieval rate, and SLN status (positive or negative) compared with pathology of CND specimen to detect any false negatives. The secondary outcomes included SLN analyses (tumor burden, location in different levels of the neck, laterality, extracapsular spread, and total nodes positive) and overall survival. Of 60 patients, 59 (98%) had successful SLN detection with the lymphoscintigram failing to localize in 1 patient. Of the remaining 59 patients, 58 (96%) had all the SLNs retrieved, resulting in 96.4% sentinel node retrieval rate. In total, 24 (41%) SLNs were positive with 1 false negative. Using a combination of SLN and CND findings as the gold standard for lymph node involvement status, SLNB had a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80-100%), a specificity of 100% (95% CI: 90-100%), and negative predictive value of 97% (95% CI: 85-100%). The results of this study suggest that SLNB is an accurate technique to assess the nodal status in patients with cT1-T2 N0 OCSCC and should be considered for eligible patients.

Indocyanine green fluorescent image-guided inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy in vulvar cancer.

ObjectiveTo demonstrate near-infrared fluorescence image-guided inguinal sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with vulvar cancer.MethodsA 40-year-old woman with a 3-cm-sized palpable left vulvar mass was diagnosed with vulvar cancer on biopsy with protrusion into the vaginal cavity. Pelvic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography showed a small ulcerative enhancing lesion confined to the left vulva without distant metastasis. The patient was scheduled for radical vulvectomy with a left inguinal SLN biopsy. Indocyanine green was injected directly into the vulvar mass to map lymphatic drainage. A 4-cm-sized linear incision was made on the left inguinal crease, and the lymphatic channels of the left inguinal area were dissected under fluorescent image guidance using a 1588 Advanced Imaging Modalities Platform laparoscopic camera (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA).ResultsFluorescence image-guided left inguinal SLN biopsy and radical vulvectomy were performed. The pathologic diagnosis confirmed vulvar adenoid cystic carcinoma with metastasis to the left inguinal lymph node (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIA). The patient was discharged without complications and received adjuvant radiotherapy.ConclusionThis video demonstrates a successful ICG fluorescence image-guided left inguinal SLN biopsy in a vulvar cancer patient using a laparoscopic camera. Mapping of inguinal SLNs in patients with vulvar cancer may help in retaining surgical radicality while minimizing operative complications.

Magnetic-Guided Axillary UltraSound (MagUS) Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Mapping in Patients with Early Breast Cancer. A Phase 2, Single-Arm Prospective Clinical Trial.

Simple SummarySuperparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) have been shown to identify sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer. This study investigated whether a minimally invasive approach with MRI-LG after SPIO injection in the breast followed by a magnetic guided axillary ultrasound and core biopsy of the SLN (MagUS) could accurately stage the axilla. The study included not only patients planned for primary surgery but also patients with recurrent cancer after previous surgery, but also patients scheduled for neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). The latter underwent minimally invasive SLNB prior to treatment and had their SLN clipped; surgery in the axilla was performed after NAT. In 79 included patients, MagUS detected all patients with macrometastasis and performed comparably with surgical sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND). It also allowed for marking of the SLN in patients planned for PST and enabled tailored decision making in breast cancer recurrence.Lymph Node Dissection (SLND) is standard of care for diagnosing sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients with early breast cancer. Study aim was to determine whether the combination of Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) MRI-lymphography (MRI-LG) and a Magnetic-guided Axillary UltraSound (MagUS) with biopsy can allow for minimally invasive, axillary evaluation to de-escalate surgery. Patients were injected with 2 mL of SPIO and underwent MRI-LG for SN mapping. Thereafter MagUS and core needle biopsy (CNB) were performed. Patients planned for neoadjuvant treatment, the SLN was clipped and SLND was performed after neoadjuvant with the addition of isotope. During surgery, SLNs were controlled for signs of previous biopsy or clip. The primary endpoint was MagUS SLN detection rate, defined as successful SLN detection of at least one SLN of those retrieved in SLND. In 79 patients, 48 underwent upfront surgery, 12 received neoadjuvant and 19 had recurrent cancer. MagUS traced the SLN in all upfront and neoadjuvant cases, detecting all patients with macrometastases (n = 10). MagUS missed only one micrometastasis, outperforming baseline axillary ultrasound AUS (AUC: 0.950 vs. 0.508, p < 0.001) and showing no discordance to SLND (p = 1.000). MagUS provides the niche for minimally invasive axillary mapping that can reduce diagnostic surgery.

Morbid obesity increases the failure rate of sentinel lymph node mapping for endometrial carcinoma

<h3>Objectives:</h3> Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) mapping is recommended for patients with endometrial carcinoma to reduce the rate of full lymphadenectomy and its associated morbidity such as lymphedema. Obesity is a risk factor for endometrial carcinoma, and many patients are morbidly obese at the time of diagnosis. The goal of this study is to examine the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the success rate of SLN mapping using indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared imaging. <h3>Methods:</h3> A retrospective cohort study was performed of women with endometrial carcinoma undergoing robotic hysterectomy and SLN mapping with ICG between March 2016 and August 2019. Robotic surgery cases were identified from the hospital financial system that were coded with a primary diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer, a procedure of hysterectomy, and a cost code for indocyanine green. A total of 369 cases were identified. A total of 28 cases were excluded because no dye was used or SLN mapping was not attempted due to extent of disease. Preoperative patient characteristics and surgical outcomes including SLN mapping success rate were compared across World Health Organization BMI groups. <h3>Results:</h3> BMI was categorized as normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.9, 41 patients), pre-obesity (BMI 25.0 - 29.9, 48 patients), obesity class I (BMI 30.0 - 34.9, 71 patients), obesity class II (BMI 35.0 - 39.9, 70 patients), and obesity class III (BMI ≥40, 111 patients). Across BMI groups, patient age and ASA category were significantly different, with younger ages and higher ASA scores in the higher BMI groups. BMI groups did not differ in the number of prior abdominal surgeries or FIGO Grade. Uterine weight, diameter and procedure time were all significantly different across BMI groups, with higher weights, diameters and procedure times in the higher BMI groups. Estimated blood loss and depth of myometrial invasion were not significantly different. In the cohort, 85% had FIGO Stage 1 disease. For procedures with successful unilateral or bilateral SLN detection, the mean number of lymph nodes removed per side was not significantly different across BMI groups. The overall bilateral SLN mapping success rate for the cohort was 68.9%. However, the bilateral SLN mapping success rate was significantly lower in patients with obesity class III (54.1%) compared with patients who were less obese (76.1%, p<0.01). There was no difference in success rate between lower BMI categories. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Patients with class III obesity (BMI > 40) have a significantly lower success rate for SLN mapping when compared with all other BMI categories (54.1% vs 76.1%, respectively, p<0.01).

Pre-Operative Localization of Axillary Lymph Nodes with Tattoo Ink: A Preliminary Report

Background: Pre-operative localization options in the axilla are limited. This study aimed to explore the utility of pre-operative localization of axillary lymph nodes using tattoo ink with multidisciplinary correlations.Methods: In this prospective, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved study, 19 lymph nodes in 17 patients underwent pre-operative localization with ultrasound-guided injection of Spot tattoo ink. The success rate of intraoperative identification of the tattooed node as well as the frequency in which the tattooed node was also a sentinel node were recorded. Radiologic, surgical and pathologic images were collected. Results: Tattoo ink localization was successful in 16/17 (94.1%) of patients. Tattoo ink did not hinder pathologic evaluation in any cases but was taken up by additional adjacent nodes in 1/17 successful localizations (5.9%). Successful sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) occurred in 13 patients in whom 14 lymph nodes underwent pre-operative tattoo ink localization. Nine of the 14 (64.2%) tattooed lymph nodes were also a sentinel node.Conclusion: In this study, pre-operative localization of axillary lymph nodes with tattoo ink was highly successful In patients undergoing SLNB, a significant number of the tattooed nodes were not sentinel nodes (35.8%), suggesting the importance of targeted lymph node excision in addition to SLNB.

Repeat Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery in Recurrent Breast Cancer: Peritumoral vs. Periareolar Injections

BackgroundIn the setting of recurrent cancer, there is no standard methodology regarding the technical aspects of repeat sentinel lymph node (rSLN) surgery. We analyzed our institutional experience with attempted rSLN surgery to determine the optimal injection technique. Materials and MethodsSingle site, retrospective review of patients with prior lumpectomy for breast cancer who presented with recurrent or new ipsilateral breast cancer and underwent attempt at rSLN surgery from 2008 to 2017. Patients with prior mastectomy or no prior ipsilateral axillary operation were excluded. ResultsA total of 141 patients were included; 103 (73%) underwent successful rSLN biopsy procedure. Lymphoscintigraphy showed aberrant drainage in 32 (26%). Periareolar (PA) injection resulted in failed mapping in 23/99 (23%) and aberrant drainage in 25/85 (29%). By comparison, peritumoral (PT) injection had a 14/38 (37%) incidence of failed mapping and 7/37 (19%) aberrant drainage (P = .11 and .23, respectively). Of the patients with successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy procedure via PA injection, 11/76 (14%) were positive for metastatic disease as compared with 2/24 (8%) in PT injection. Sixteen patients had lymph node metastases; 13 (81%) were SLNs, including 3 positive aberrant SLNs. Five-year regional recurrence rates were 11.4% (95% confidence interval, 0%-21.5%) and 0% for PA and PT injection techniques, respectively. ConclusionPA and PT injections had a similar incidence of SLN identification and aberrant drainage. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is beneficial in patients with recurrent breast cancer given the higher incidence of aberrant drainage in this population. Patients who underwent PA injections had a higher incidence of regional recurrences but this difference was not statistically significant.

VNOTES Hysterectomy with Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping for Endometrial Cancer: Description of Technique and Perioperative Outcomes

To explore the technique and clinical value of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) in hysterectomy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for endometrial cancer by comparing its perioperative outcomes with those of laparoscopic staging. Retrospective cohort study. Department of gynecology at a tertiary medical center. All women diagnosed with endometrial cancer who underwent minimally invasive surgery at our center between August 2017 and May 2020. Both vNOTES and laparoscopic approaches were used for hysterectomy and SLN mapping. The success of SLN detection as well as perioperative outcomes were subsequently analyzed. This study included 74 patients; 23 patients underwent vNOTES surgery, whereas 51 underwent standard laparoscopic surgery. The total successful SLN detection was 95.7% in the vNOTES group and 92.2% in the laparoscopy group (p >.05), whereas the bilateral success rates were 87.0% and 90.2%, respectively. No difference in SLN detection was observed between the 2 groups in terms of the side-specific mapping efficacy quotient (91.3% vs 91.2%, p = .47). The number of harvested SLNs, operative time, estimated blood loss, and intraoperative complications in the 2 groups were similar. One (4.3%) postoperative complication occurred in the vNOTES group vs 4 (7.9%) in the laparoscopy group (p = .029), and the median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days vs 4 days (p = .003). This study suggests that the vNOTES procedure is feasible, with a potentially decreased postoperative hospital stay, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. However, prospective research is needed to validate its broader clinical application.