The sentinel node procedure in early stage cervical cancer, taking the next step; a diagnostic review.

Objective: Recent reviews on the sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure in cervical cancer have shown that bilateral SLN detection and ultra staging are safe and superior options compared to a unilateral detection, frozen section and H&E analysis. So far, nobody identified a subgroup of patients in whom a SLN procedure may replace pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane from inception up to November 26, 2014.