Lymphatic Mapping and Focused Analysis of Sentinel Lymph Nodes Upstage Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
THE TUMOR status of the regional lymph nodes is crucial for staging gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasms.1-4 Although complete lymph node dissection and pathologic examination of regional lymph nodes by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining is the most widely practiced staging method, the extent of lymphadenectomy required for accurate staging remains controversial. In 1990, Morton et al5 introduced intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy (LM/SL) as a means of staging primary cutaneous melanoma without the morbidity of complete lymph node dissection. According to the sentinel lymph node (SN) concept, tumor cells metastasizing via the lymphatics will enter the SN, the first node of the regional lymphatic drainage basin, before spreading to other lymph nodes along the lymphatic chain.6-8 Thus, the SN is the most likely node to contain tumor cells if a regional nodal metastasis has occurred.