Introduction and Clinical Context
Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge worldwide, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women. Traditionally, management of early-stage cervical cancer includes radical hysterectomy combined with systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND). This approach allows for accurate staging and regional disease control but is associated with considerable morbidity, including lymphedema, nerve damage, and longer recovery periods.
Recent advances in precision surgical techniques, particularly sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, have revolutionized management in other gynecologic cancers such as endometrial and vulvar cancers. However, the adoption of SLN biopsy in cervical cancer has been cautious, primarily due to concerns over false negatives and the risk of missed metastatic disease.
