The role of sentinel lymph node mapping in colon cancer: detection of micro-metastasis, effect on survival, and driver of a paradigm shift in extent of colon resection

Unlike in breast cancer and melanoma, sentinel lymph node mapping in colon cancer is primarily used as an aid to the pathologist for accurate nodal staging. The study was undertaken to review the incidence of micro-metastasis and its impact on survival when treated with chemotherapy. The study was also undertaken to see if SLNM could guide limited colon resection in early T stage tumor as a paradigm shift. SLNM was done by subserosal injection of a blue dye. SLNs were ultra-staged by multilevel sectioning and remaining Specimen was then examined by conventional method. For the last 245 patients the specimen was divied ex vivo into two segments as segment A containing the tumor bearing portion of the colon and SLNs with attached mesentery, while segment B include distal part of the colon with attached mesentery. Nodal staging was separately examined. Of the 354 Pts, SLNM was successful in 99.9% of Pts with an average no of SLN/ Pt = 2.8 and total nodes 17.8/pt. Survival was directly related negatively with stage and nodal status. Pts with +ve LN did much better with chemotherapy than without chemotherapy. With 245 Pts, specimen A Vs B, no Pts had +ve node in specimen B with −ve LN in specimen A. SLNM results in more node/Pt, more positive node/Pt ,and more micro-metastasis who when treated with chemotherapy survive longer. Limited segmental resection in early T stage is possible when done with guidance by SLNM without compromising biology.