Should the Dynamic Sentinel Node Biopsy (DSNB) be Considered the Gold Standard in the Evaluation of Lymph Node Status in Patients with Penile Carcinoma?

摘要

We thank professors Ficarra and Wespes for dedicating an editorial to the role of dynamic sentinel node biopsy (DSNB) in penile carcinoma . Their opinions on this matter are highly appreciated. Due to its relatively low incidence, most studies regarding penile carcinoma are hampered by small numbers of patients. Combined with the lack of randomised controlled trials in this disease, there is ample room for debate regarding staging and treatment. Nevertheless, whatever reasonable criticism they may have, DSNB has proven so far to be the most reliable method for detecting occult metastases in patients with clinically node-negative penile cancer, without inflicting the morbidity of an elective inguinal lymph node dissection. In contrast to all other mentioned methods, this procedure was assessed in a large number of patients, in multiple institutes, and has stood the test of time.