Sentinel node metastasis in the groin detected by technetium-labeled nannocolloid in a patient with cervical cancer

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the first sentinel groin node metastasis detected by technetium-labeled nanocolloid in a patient with cervical carcinoma. Method. Preoperatively, 60 mBq technetium-labeled nannocolloid was injected at 3 and 9 o'clock in the uterine cervix. Sentinel nodes were detected using a handheld and laparoscopic probe (Navigator) and removed for pathological assessment. Results. A 52-year-old diagnosed with FIGO stage IIA squamous cervical carcinoma was referred to our unit. On physical examination a bulky cervical tumor and a 1.5-cm enlarged left inguinal lymph node were found. No other abnormalities were seen on pelvic MRI scan and CT scan of the abdomen and lower pelvis. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy showed that a left groin node and three nodes located in the right obturator fossa were the sentinel nodes. They were easily detected using, respectively, a hand-held and a laparoscopic probe and removed. As both the inguinal and the obturator lymph nodes contained metastatic deposits, the patient was treated with the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Conclusion. Inguinal lymph nodes can rarely be the sentinel nodes in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).