Unilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in patients with early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and a unilateral metastatic sentinel lymph node is safe

  • GROINSS-V I and II participants
  • , W. L. Van der Kolk
  • , A. G.J. Van der Zee
  • , B. M. Slomovitz
  • , P. J.W. Baldwin
  • , H. C. Van Doorn
  • , J. A. De Hullu
  • , J. Van der Velden
  • , K. N. Gaarenstroom
  • , B. F.M. Slangen
  • , P. Kjolhede
  • , M. Brännström
  • , I. Vergote
  • , C. M. Holland
  • , R. Coleman
  • , E. B.L. Van Dorst
  • , W. J. Van Driel
  • , D. Nunns
  • , M. Widschwendter
  • , D. Nugent
  • P. A. DiSilvestro, R. S. Mannel, M. Y. Tjiong, D. Boll, D. Cibula, A. Covens, D. Provencher, I. B. Runnebaum, B. J. Monk, V. Zanagnolo, K. Tamussino, M. H.M. Oonk*
*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    17 Citations (Scopus)
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    Abstract

    Objective: Optimal management of the contralateral groin in patients with early-stage vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) and a metastatic unilateral inguinal sentinel lymph node (SN) is unclear. We analyzed patients who participated in GROINSS-V I or II to determine whether treatment of the contralateral groin can safely be omitted in patients with a unilateral metastatic SN.

    Methods: We selected the patients with a unilateral metastatic SN from the GROINSS-V I and II databases. We determined the incidence of contralateral additional non-SN metastases in patients with unilateral SN-metastasis who underwent bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL). In those who underwent only ipsilateral groin treatment or no further treatment, we determined the incidence of contralateral groin recurrences during follow-up.

    Results: Of 1912 patients with early-stage VSCC, 366 had a unilateral metastatic SN. Subsequently, 244 had an IFL or no treatment of the contralateral groin. In eight patients (8/244; 3.3% [95% CI: 1.7%–6.3%]) disease was diagnosed in the contralateral groin: six had contralateral non-SN metastasis at IFL and two developed an isolated contralateral groin recurrence after nu further treatment. Six of them had a primary tumor ≥30 mm. Bilateral radiotherapy was administered in 122 patients, of whom one (1/122; 0.8% [95% CI: 0.1%–4.5%]) had a contralateral groin recurrence.

    Conclusion: The risk of contralateral lymph node metastases in patients with early-stage VSCC and a unilateral metastatic SN is low. It appears safe to limit groin treatment to unilateral IFL or inguinofemoral radiotherapy in these cases.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalGynecologic Oncology
    Volume167
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct-2022

    Keywords

    • Inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy
    • Lymph node metastases
    • Radiotherapy
    • Sentinel lymph node
    • Vulvar cancer

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