Dynamic sentinel node biopsy in penile carcinoma: Evaluation of 10 years experience

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of 10 years dynamic sentinel node biopsy experience in penile carcinoma at our institute. Patients and Methods: 140 patients with clinically node-negative groins were prospectively included. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after injection of ^99mTechnetium-nanocolloid around the primary tumour. The sentinel node was intraoperatively identified with the aid of patent blue dye and a gamma ray detection probe. Lymph node dissection was performed only if sentinel node metastasis was found. Median follow-up was 52 months (range 5-129). Results: Lymphoscintigraphy visualized at least 1 sentinel node in 138 patients. Sentinel node metastasis was found in 37 inguinal regions of 31 patients. The sentinel node was the only tumour-positive node in 78% (29/37) of the dissection specimens. Complications occurred in 8% (17/206) of the operated groins. False-negative results were encountered in 6 patients resulting in a false-negative rate of 16% (6/37 patients). 5-year disease-specific survival was 96% and 66% for patients with a tumour-negative sentinel node and tumour-positive sentinel node, respectively (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Dynamic sentinel node biopsy in penile carcinoma is of important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value at the cost of only minor morbidity.