Establishing a sentinel lymph node mapping algorithm for the treatment of early cervical cancer.

Objective: To establish an algorithm that incorporates sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping to the surgical treatment of early cervical cancer, ensuring that lymph node (LN) metastases are accurately detected but minimizing the need for complete lymphadenectomy (LND).

Methods: A prospectively maintained database of all patients who underwent SLN procedure followed by a complete bilateral pelvic LND for cervical cancer (FIGO stages IA1 with LVI to IIA) from 03/2003 to 09/2010 was analyzed. The surgical algorithm we evaluated included the following: 1.

A prospective study of the accuracy of 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG PET) in identifying sites of metastasis prior to pelvic exenteration.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of (18)FDG PET in identifying sites of metastatic disease prior to pelvic exenteration or radical resection in patients (pts) with recurrent cervical or vaginal cancers.

Methods: Pts with recurrent cervical or vaginal cancer being evaluated for surgical resection were enrolled in a prospective study approved by the institutional human subjects review board. All patients underwent (18)FDG PET scans as well as CT and/or MRI scans and were required to have pathologic confirmation of any sites suggestive of tumor recurrence.