HCG Manavata Cancer Center successfully performs the first Laparoscopic/ Robotic Sentinel Lymph nodes mapping in Nashik

 

National: 'Uterine Cancer' is a common cancer of females that presents with bleeding per vagina which is not related to their menstrual cycles. It occurs usually in post-menopausal women. obese females & high socioeconomic strata. One of the most important prognostic factors for uterine cancer is the presence of disease spread beyond the uterus, particularly in glands near the uterus, called lymph nodes, which are conventionally get removed during the surgical treatment of uterine cancer (Radical Hysterectomy). The presence of these lymph nodes' involvement determines whether chemo or radiation therapy is required or not after surgery.

Treatment advancement though progressed from open radical surgery to Robotic minimal access surgery, but still, it was including conventional removal of all lymph nodes on both sides of the uterus which leads to some postoperative complications in that patient where it might be not necessary too.

These patients are at moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clotting in veins of legs & thighs). Lymphedema also has been seen in 45% of these patients post Lymph node excision surgery.

The greater extent of lymph node excision increases the risk of these complications. Few patients may notice only ankle swelling but others may have this swelling progressed to the lower tummy wall. Physical &mental quality of life was lower in a patient with lower leg swelling than in other operated patients.

Another potential complication is lymphocele (collection of lymph fluid in closed spaces) which sometimes causes pressure & pain in the lower back & Hip region, may compress urine tubes, swelling in kidneys & further infections.

To Avoid Such circumstances, surgical treatment has advanced in form of Sentinel Lymph node mapping & ultra-staging with help of a special instrument, dyes & trained surgical expertise in this field. In HCG Manavata Cancer Center Dr. Vikas Jain, Senior consultant Surgical oncologist performed their first Laparoscopic / Robotic Sentinel Lymph nodes mapping in Nashik, for which he got trained in Delhi & was doing it routinely there.

It is the only center after TATA Mumbai where this technique is available with its expertise. In this technique, only 1-3 Lymph nodes are identified & removed which harbors the highest possible as the first draining center of cancer from the Uterus or cervix avoiding other channels being disturbed in early cancer. Hence this technique avoids complications of Lymph node excision in early cases at least & makes surgical recovery easy & smooth. Even patient who needs any additional treatment after surgery can proceed earlier for their further treatment.