The role of sentinel lymph node detection in early gastric cancer – literature review

Abstract

Gastric cancer has been for a long period of time one of the most aggressive malignancies due to the fact that it was usually diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease. However, in the last decades, introduction of upper digestive endoscopy on a wider scale led to a higher detection of this malignancy in earlier stages. Therefore, surgery with curative intent and, in consequence, better long-term outcomes, has been reported. In order to maximize the effect of surgery and to minimize the postoperative complication rates, in the Eastern studies the concept of sentinel lymph node biopsy has been implemented with satisfactory results. This is a literature review of the studies conducted so far on the theme of sentinel lymph node detection in gastric cancer patients.

Keywords

• gastric cancer
• sentinel lymph node dissection
• lymphadenectomy