Sentinel node biopsy in vulvar malignancies: A preliminary feasibility study

Sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB) were investigated in 8 cases (6 squamou s cell carcinomas, 2 melanomas) of vulval malignancy. The sentinel node was detected by patent blue dye injection (1 case), pre operative lymphoscinti graphy with intra-operative gamma hand-held probe (2 cases), and combined t echniques (5 cases). The procedure was successful in all cases but one (1 i nvasive squamous cell carcinoma) in which there was medial groin recurrence at 6 months. Nodal invasion was observed in only one case and was confined to the sentinel node. No specific morbidity related to the SLNB procedure occulted. SLNB appears to be a feasible and promising technique, however, r equiring further evaluation before being considered as a reliable method to spare inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in early-stage patients free of senti nel node metastasis, or to be substituted in screening elderly clinically n ode-negative females.