Groin sentinel node biopsy and 18F-FDG PET/CT-supported preoperative lymph node assessment in cN0 patients with vulvar cancer currently unfit for minimally invasive inguinal surgery: The GroSNaPET study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2017.06.018
• Publication Date: 2017-07-16T06:31:02Z
• Authors: G. Garganese; A. Collarino; S.M. Fragomeni; V. Rufini; G. Perotti; S. Gentileschi; M.T. Evangelista; F.P. Ieria; L. Zagaria; S. Bove; A. Giordano; G. Scambia
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; 18F-FDG PET/CT; Guidelines; Inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy; Preoperative imaging; Sentinel node biopsy; Vulvar cancer; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Inguinal Canal; Lymph Nodes; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Staging; Patient Selection; Pilot Projects; Predictive Value of Tests; Preoperative Period; Prospective Studies; Radiopharmaceuticals; Vulvar Neoplasms; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; Surgery; Oncology; Patient Selection; Carcinoma; Inguinal Canal; Pilot Projects; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Predictive Value of Tests; Lymphatic Metastasis; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Preoperative Period; Humans; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Female; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Lymph Nodes; Prospective Studies; Aged; Neoplasm Staging

The study aims were: 1) to verify the role of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in a subset of patients with clinical N0 (cN0) invasive vulvar cancer (VC) who were still candidates for radical inguinal surgery according to the current guidelines; 2) to investigate whether a preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT (PET/CT) evaluation could improve the selection of node negative patients.From July 2013 to July 2016, all patients with VC admitted to our Division were evaluated by standard imaging and clinical exam. Among the patients assessed as cN0 we enrolled those unsuitable for SNB, due to: T > 4 cm, multifocal tumors, complete tumor diagnostic excision, contralateral nodal involvement and local recurrence. A preoperative PET/CT was performed. For each patient surgery included SNB, performed using a combined technique (radiotracer plus blue dye), followed by standard inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy. The reference standard was histopathology.Forty-seven patients entered the study for a total of 73 groins. Histopathology revealed 12 metastatic SNs in 9 groins. No false negative SNs were found (NPV 100%). PET/CT showed a negative predictive value of 93%.Our data suggest that SNB is accurate and safe even in cN0 patients currently excluded from this procedure, providing that a careful preoperative selection is performed. PET/CT allows a reliable assessment of LN status and may be an effective support for the selection of patients who are safe candidates for SNB.