Purpose
Node status determines stage and the need for adjuvant treatment. Dissection is anatomical — external iliac, obturator, internal iliac and where indicated common iliac and para-aortic stations — with careful haemostasis and lymphatic sealing.
Sentinel node mapping
Where guidelines allow, indocyanine green sentinel mapping identifies the first draining nodes so that full dissection, and its risk of lymphoedema, can be avoided in node-negative patients.
Risks specific to node dissection
Lymphocele, lymphoedema of the legs, and injury to the obturator nerve or iliac vessels. Rates are low but are discussed as part of consent, and lymphoedema surveillance is built into follow-up.
Common questions
- Can lymphoedema be prevented?
- Sentinel node techniques, meticulous lymphatic sealing and early physiotherapy reduce the risk; it cannot be eliminated after extensive dissection.
Related reading
This page is general education, reviewed by Dr. Ishaan Allahabadi, MCh Surgical Oncology (Edge Hill, UK) · MS Surgery · MBBS (Accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons of England). It is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Treatment decisions are made after reviewing your imaging and pathology, in a multidisciplinary tumour board.