The Sentinel Lymph Node Concept

The sentinel lymph node concept is meeting with steadily growing interest and is being extended to the different sites of the primaries. In addition, the concept is being applied in an increasingly sophisticated manner. In this book the practical application of the sentinel node concept is evaluated from the points of view of pathology, radiodiagnosis and nuclear medicine diagnostics, surgical treatment and clinical oncology. The concept is analyzed for breast cancer, malignant melanoma, tumors of the face, oropharynx, lung, gastrointestinal and urogenital tract. The first part of the book describes the function and use of the nuclear medicine equipment, the tracers used, colloid solutions and modern developments in histological and immunohistochemical lymph node investigations, as well as possible pitfalls. The consequences of false-negative results are clearly delineated. In the second part, specific tumor-related problems are described. TOC:From the contents: General Part: Definition and Basic Principles; Main Techniques of Sentinel Lymph Node Labeling; Different Aspects on Type and Localization of the Primary; Basic Strategies in Sentinel Node Detection and Verification of Cancer Metastasis into the Regional Node; PET: Significance for Preoperative N-Staging; Detection and Radiological Imaging of SLN; Lymphatic Drainage to the SLN.- Special Part: The Sentinel Lymph Node Concept Related to Main Tumor Types and Subtypes, Applicability in Daily Routine Work: Breast Cancer; Thyroid Cancer; Cancers of the Face, Nose Pharynx, and Oral Cavity; Lung Cancer; Malignant Melanoma; Esophageal and Gastrointestinal Cancer; SLN Staging in Carcinoide and Neuroendocrine Tumors; The Sentinel Lymph Node Concept in Cancers of the Female Genitalia; Cancers of the Male Genitalia; Prostate Cancer: an Overview; Cancers of the Urinary Tract; Closing Remarks; Therapy Regimens Used in Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Treatment of the Tumor Types Discussed.