Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification: gynecologic applications.

The status of regional lymph nodes is a powerful predictor of survival in patients with early cancers of the vulva, cervix, and uterus. Radical resection of vulvar and cervix cancers along with extensive lymphadenectomy remains the standard of care for these cancers. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification has the potential to improve the treatment of patients with gynecologic cancer with improved detection of lymph node metastases and reduced morbidity. This chapter will focus primarily on vulvar cancer and include a review of previous innovations in treatment and current experience with intraoperative lymphatic mapping in these patients.