부산대학교 도서관

Objective: To identify suitable diagnostic tools and evaluate the efficacy of sentinel lymphnode (SLN) biopsy for inguinal lymph node metastasis in vulvar cancer. Methods: Data from 41 patients with vulvar cancer were evaluated retrospectively, includingmagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, SLN biopsy status, groin lymph nodemetastasis, and prognosis. Results: SLN biopsy was conducted in 12 patients who had stage I to III disease. Groinlymphadenectomy was omitted in five of the nine patients with negative SLNs. All SLNnegativepatients who did not undergo groin lymphadenectomy showed no evidence ofdisease after treatment. On MRI, the long and short diameters of the inguinal node weresignificantly longer in metastasis-positive cases, compared with negative cases, in 25 patientswhose nodes were evaluated pathologically (long diameter, 12.8 mm vs. 8.8 mm, p=0.025;short diameter, 9.2 mm vs. 6.7 mm, p=0.041). The threshold of >10.0 mm for the longaxis gave a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of87.5%, 70.6%, 58.3%, and 92.3%, respectively, using a binary classification test. Decisiontree analysis revealed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 87.5%, 70.6%, and 76.0%,respectively, with the threshold of >10.0 mm for the long axis on MRI. The criteria of >10.0mm for the long axis on MRI predicted an advanced stage and poorer prognosis using avalidation set of 15 cases (p=0.028). Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery after preoperative evaluation on MRI and SLN biopsyis a feasible strategy for patients with vulvar cancer.