[Sensitivity and validity of sentinel node biopsy in early-stage cervical cancer at an oncology institution].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the validity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in women with early-stage cervical cancer (CeCa).

METHODS

We carried out a study of 46 patients with CeCa of FIGO stages IA1c-IB2 treated with radical uterine surgery. The technique for the identification of BGC was performed with patent blue dye and technetium-99m. For its validation, a bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (BPL) was performed, and all sentinel lymph nodes underwent pathological ultra-staging. We determined the detection rates of SNB, bilaterality, sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the SNB was 100%, specificity was 95%, positive predictive value was 75%, negative predictive value was 100%, diagnostic accuracy was 93%, and the false negative rate was 0%.

CONCLUSIONS

The BGC technique in patients with CeCa in the early stages who undergo radical hysterectomy is a feasible and safe method at Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. The importance of this method is that BPL can be avoided when it migrates bilaterally, reducing the morbidity of the procedure.