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. 2008 Oct;24(4):451-6.
doi: 10.4103/0970-1591.44246.

The sentinel node concept in prostate cancer: Present reality and future prospects

M Egawa, M Fukuda, H Takashima, T Misaki, K Kinuya, S Terahata

The sentinel node concept in prostate cancer: Present reality and future prospects

M Egawa et al. Indian J Urol. 2008 Oct.

Abstract

A sentinel node (SN) is defined as the first site where cancer cells are carried by lymph flow from a tumor. If this definition (SN concept) correctly reflects the clinical reality, intraoperative SN biopsy would facilitate precise nodal staging. In malignant melanoma, a prolonged survival has been evidenced by a large-scale randomized controlled study. On the contrary, research on SN concept in deeply located cancers including prostate cancer, is still investigative, and no concrete data from clinical trials are yet available. Since 1993, several investigators have demonstrated that the SN concept could be applied in prostate cancer patients as well with high accuracy. Although promising and technically feasible in pre-clinical settings, many hurdles remain to be cleared before clinical application can be recommended. This review addresses the current status and related issues of the SN concept in prostate cancer, and discusses the future directions.

Keywords: Lymph node dissection; prostatic neoplasm; sentinel node.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
An SN is clearly indicated at the right external iliac region on CT-SPECT fusion image
Figure 2
Figure 2
A handy type gamma probe is used to detect SNs (in-vivo probing)
Figure 3
Figure 3
On a back table the LNs are mapped separately, and the SN more accurately identified (ex-vivo probing)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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