Intraoperative lymphatic mapping for non-small cell lung cancer: The sentinel node technique

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the accuracy and role of the sentinel node technique in patients with non-small cell lung cancer . Methods: This study was carried out on 36 consecutive patients undergoing lung resection, Peritumoral tissue was infiltrated with isosulfan blue dye and the first lymph node to stain was identified as a sentinel node. Sensi tivity and specificity of the sentinel node in predicting the status of oth er lymph node stations were determined, Results: Seventeen patients had sen tinel lymph nodes. In 9 of these 17 cases neither the sentinel node nor any other lymph node contained metastatic carcinoma. In 5 cases the sentinel n ode was in the mediastinum and documented unexpected N2 disease. In 19 pati ents no sentinel node was found. Final lymph node statuses were N0 in 13 pa tients, N1 in 5, and N2 in 1, Conclusions: The use of isosulfan blue for in traoperative lymphatic mapping is feasible. The specificity in our experien ce was good; 9 of 9 patients with negative sentinel nodes were found to be N0 on the final pathology report. Unexpected N2 disease was found in 5 pati ents. The accumulation of further experience will determine the role of the sentinel node technique in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.