Sentinel lymph node biopsy based on anatomical landmarks and locoregional mapping of inguinofemoral sentinel lymph nodes in women with vulval cancer: an operative technique

Figures & data

Figure 1. Surgical technique for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy; a – landmark mapping prior to skin incision; b - the SLN is identified and isolated; c - post-excision of SLN; d - 3 cm skin incision closure following SLN biopsy.

Figure 2. Topographical distribution of inguinofemoral SLN.

Table 1. Demographic and clinico-pathological outcomes.

Patient characteristics (n = 42)
Age, mean (SD), years	64 (14.2)
Surgery	n (% per patient)
Ipsilateral SLN biopsy	18 (40.9)
Bilateral SLN biopsy	26 (59.1)
Performance Status
0	37 (84.1)
1	6 (13.6)
2	1 (2.3)
FIGO stage for VSCC only (n = 41)
1a (recurrent)	1 (2.4)
1b	32 (78.1)
3a	2 (4.9)
3b	3 (7.3)
3c	3 (7.3)
TNM staging for melanoma (n = 3)
T2a	1
T3b	1
T4b	1
Tumour and SLN characteristics
Maximum horizontal dimension, mean ±SD, mm	17.4 ± 9.8
Laterality	n (% per patient)
Central	31 (70.5)
Lateral	13 (29.5)
Histotype	n (% per patient)
VSCC	41 (93.2)
Melanoma	3 (6.8)
SLN status, VSCC only (n = 66)	n (% per groins)
Positive	7 (10.6)
Negative	59 (89.4)
Outcomes
Early Complications (30 days)	n (% per groins)
None	50 (70.4)
Lymphocyst	11 (15.5)
Wound dehiscence	8 (11.3)
Wound cellulitis	2 (2.8)
Recurrence in SLN negative for VSCC (N = 59)	n (% per groins)
No	58 (98.3)
Yes	1 (1.7)
Status	n (% per patient)
Alive	40 (90.9)
Disease specific death	2 (4.5)
Non-disease specific death	2 (4.5)