Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Based on Anatomical Landmarks and Locoregional Mapping of Inguinofemoral Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Women with Vulval Cancer: an Operative Technique.

Abstract

Inguinal lymph node involvement is the most robust predictor of mortality in women with vulval cancer and sentinel lymph node biopsy is recognised as a safe diagnostic modality provided strict patient criteria as defined by the GROINSS-V study are respected. Studies have largely concentrated on the efficacy of different intraoperative detection modalities or histopathological protocols whilst the literature describing a standardised surgical technique remains deficient. We hereby propose a reproducible operative technique based on anatomical landmarks and an appreciation of the territorial mapping of inguinal sentinel lymph nodes.