Feasibility study of sentinel lymph node of prostate cancer by laparoscopy: First results

Objectives. - The standard lymphadenectomy is currently a challenge in the management of prostate cancer. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the performance of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) by laparoscopy in patients with localized prostate cancer, candidates for local treatment. Patients and methods. - Patients were injected transrectal ultrasound-guided with 0.3 mL/100MBq 99(m)Tc-Sulfur rhenium colloid in each prostatic lobe, the day before surgery. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after 2 hours. The detection was realized intraoperatively with a laparoscopic probe (Gamma Sup Clerad (R)) followed by extensive dissection. Counts of SLN were performed in vivo and confirmed ex vivo. The histological analysis was performed by HPS staining and followed by immunochemistry if SLN was free. Results. - Seventy patients with carcinoma of the prostate at intermediate or high risk of lymph node metastases (D'Amico), PSA median 9.5 ng/mL [6-130], were included in the study. The lymphoscintigraphic detection rate was 94.2% (66/70) and intraoperative of 97.0% (68/70). Fourteen patients had lymph node metastases, six only in SLN. The false negative rate was 2/14(14.0%). The internal iliac region is the first metastatic site (40.9%). Limited or standard lymph node dissection would have ignored respectively 72.7% and 59.0% of lymph node metastases. Conclusion. - The laparoscopy is adapted to a broad identification of SLN and targeted dissection of these lymph nodes significantly limits the risk of surgical extended dissection while maintaining the accuracy of the information. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.