Laparoscopically-assisted intraoperative lymphatic mapping in endometrial cancer: preliminary results

Objective: To analyse the results of a pilot study and determine the contribution of laparoscopically-assisted lymphatic mapping in patients with endometrial cancer.

Methods and materials: In eight cases of early endometrial cancer, patent blue-V was injected laparoscopically into the uterine wall during a surgical staging procedure.

Results: A deposition of the blue dye was found in at least one pelvic lymph node in five of eight cases. Blue-colored nodes were observed in a total of 11 lymph nodes. Locations of these nodes included obturator, internal and common iliac sites. Only one blue colored node was positive for disease. An average of 15 lymph nodes were removed in the study group (range, 12-22). Uterine lymphatic vessels with bilateral drainage to the broad and infundibulopelvic ligaments were seen in all cases within 30-60 seconds.

Conclusion: Our initial experience with laparoscopically-assisted lymphatic mapping confirmed that the use of a minimally invasive technique is feasible. Lymphatic channels in the pelvic areas were seen in every patient. A deposition of blue dye in laparoscopically identifiable lymph nodes was seen only in 62.5% of patients. However, we believe that the lymphatic mapping of the uterine corpus can improve the accuracy of surgical staging in patients with endometrial cancer.

Laparoscopy; Lymphatic mapping; Endometrial cancer.

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