What is the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy for gastric cancer? A systematic review

Background In gastric cancer, the utility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has not been established. SLN may be a good predictor of the pathological status of other lymph nodes and thus the necessity for more extensive surgery or lymph node dissection. We aimed to identify and synthesize findings on the performance of SLN biopsies in gastric cancer. Methods Electronic literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1998 to 2009. Titles and abstracts were independently rated for relevance by a minimum of two reviewers. Techniques, detection rates, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and false-negative rates (FNRs) were analyzed. Analysis was performed based on the FNR. Results Twenty-six articles met our inclusion criteria. SLN detection using the dye method (DM) was reviewed in 18 studies, the radiocolloid method (RM) was used in 12 studies, and both dye and radiocolloid methods (DUAL) were used in 5 studies. The DM had an overall calculated FNR of 34.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.2, 48.1). The RM had an overall calculated FNR of 18.5% (95% CI 9.1, 28.0). DUAL had an overall calculated FNR of 13.1% (95% CI -0.9, 27.2). Conclusion Application of the SLN technique may be practical for early gastric cancer. The use of DUAL for identifying SLN may yield a lower FNR than either method alone, although statistical significance was not met.