Sentinel Node Biopsy for Vulvar Cancer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a less invasive procedure for the evaluation of the inguinal (groin) nodes in patients with a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Each patient will undergo a sentinel lymph node dissection as well as resection of the primary tumor on the vulva. Patients who are determined to have sentinel nodes that are negative for metastatic disease will not receive a full groin dissection. Patients who have sentinel lymph nodes that contain metastasis will undergo a complete inguinal dissection. The study will evaluate the long-term outcomes in patients who receive only a sentinel lymph node dissection without a complete dissection. All patients entered onto the study will have a biopsy proven squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Each patient will be enrolled by a Gynecologic Oncologist practicing out of Women \& Infants Hospital