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Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in cervical cancer is an alternative or addition to systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) in the surgical staging of early-stage cancer. It relies on the concept of identification of the first lymphatic drainage of the cervix and removal of only the first lymph node drainage echelon. Its usage has been associated with reduce the extent of surgery and associated morbidity, increase in the ability to detect lymph node metastasis by more than 40% otherwise missed by standard systematic PLND and identifies possible lymph node metastasis outside of traditional lymph node boundaries.
This statement of recommended practice is to guide the clinical practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, with the aim for a national implementation of SLN mapping in patients with early stage and surgically treated cervical cancer.