Lymph Node Mapping in Gastric Cancer Surgery: Current Status and New Horizons
Baris Zulfikaroglu1
, Ozlem Kucuk2, Cigdem Soydal2, Mehmet Mahir Ozmen1,3,4
1General Surgery, Ankara Numune Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2Division of Nuclear Medicine, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
3Department of Surgery, Medical School, Istinye University, Istanbul,Turkey
4General Surgery, Liv Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most important malignant diseases with significant geographical, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in distribution. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is an accepted way to assess lymphatic spread in several solid tumors; however, the complexity of gastric lymphatic drainage may discourage use of this procedure, and the estimated accuracy rate is, in general, reasonably good. This study aimed at reviewing the current status of SLN mapping and navigation surgery in GC. SLN mapping should be limited to tumors clinically T1 and less than 4 cm in diameter. Combination SLN mapping with radioactive colloid and blue dye is used as the standard. Despite its notable limitations, SLN mapping and SLN navigation surgery present a novelty individualizing the extent of lymphadenectomy.
Keywords: Lymph node mapping, gastric cancer, surgery
Cite this article as: Zülfikaroğlu B, Küçük Ö, Soydal Ç, Özmen M. Lymph node mapping in gastric cancer surgery: current status and new horizons. Turk J Surg 2020; 36 (4): 393-398.
Written informed consent was obtained from patient who participated in this case.
Externally peer-reviewed.
Concept - B.Z., O.K.; Design - All of authors; Supervision - O.K., M.M.O.; Materials - All of authors; Data Collection and/or Processing - All of authors; Analysis and/or Interpretation - M.M.O., B.Z.; Literature Search - All of authors; Writing Manuscript - B.Z., C.S.; Critical Reviews - B.Z., O.K.
No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.