Sentinel lymph node mapping in colorectal cancer

Abstract EN

Aim: the aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in colorectal cancer. Methods: Forty patients with colorectal cancer underwent intraoperative SLN mapping.

Patent blue dye was injected around the tumor.

After resection of the tumor, the specimen was examined to identify the blue-stained lymph nodes.

Routine histopathological examination was performed on all nodes and the blue nodes Results: Lymphatic mapping was possible in 32 out of 40 patients (80%).

Pathological examination with haematoxylin and eosin staining showed lymph node metastasis in 24 out of 32 patients.

In 21 of these 24 patients the blue nodes showed tumor cells, while in 3 the blue nodes were not involved.

This represents a false negative rate of 12.5 percent. Conclusions: intraoperative SLN mapping is a feasible technique, and had a reasonable SLN identification rate.