Successful sentinel node identification in colon carcinoma using Patent Blue V

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Patent Blue V for identification of the sentinel node in patients with colon carcinoma. Method. From May 2002, 35 patients operated for colon carcinoma underwent lymphatic mapping using Patent Blue V as marker. Either directly after resection of the colon or during operation 2 ml of Patent Blue V was injected peritumourally, and the first 1 to 4 blue nodes were marked as sentinel nodes. Pathological evaluation was done on a single HE-stained section of all lymph nodes. Only if all sentinel nodes were negative for metastases, serial sectioning and additional immunohistochemical staining against keratine CK 7/8 was performed to reveal micrometastasis in the sentinel nodes. Results. In 33/35 of patients at least one sentinel node was identified. In 10/33 the sentinel node was positive for metastases, and in 5/10 this was the only node containing metastases. One patient had a false negative sentinel node (accuracy 97%, sensitivity 91%). Conclusion. Using Patent Blue V, it is possible to identify the sentinel node in most patients with colon cancer. The results are comparable with other sentinel node studies using Lymphazurin.