Lymphatic Mapping Studied in Cervical, Vulvar Ca.

NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Lymphatic mapping, although still investigational in gynecologic oncology, is showing promise in the management of cervical cancer, according to Dr. Charles Levenback, one of the gynecologic pioneers of this technique.

"Lymphatic mapping is going to change the course of treatment in gynecologic cancer," said Dr. Levenback of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

"Compared to the gold standard, which is lymphadenectomy, it will mean less morbid procedures; better treatment selection; and, hopefully, better outcomes for patients," he said at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.

Lymphatic mapping involves the injection of blue dye or a radionuclide, or both, adjacent to a cancerous tumor to identify the sentinel lymph nodes into which the tumor drains. Once identified, the sentinel nodes are removed for examination by a pathologist.

The goal of the procedure is to spare the patient from the more invasive full lymphadenectomy and the consequent risk of lymphedema. Adjuvant chemotherapy may be prescribed when a positive sentinel node is detected.

Although pioneered in the fields of skin and breast cancer, lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy have since been explored in Merkel cell cancer and cancers of the head and neck, stomach, colon, esophagus, anus, thyroid, penis, and vulva, Dr. Levenback said at the meeting.

He presented his experience with 39 patients diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer who were scheduled to undergo ...