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Speeding up recovery from radical cystectomy: how low can we go?
Author(s) -
Catto James W.F.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/bju.13784
Subject(s) - cystectomy , medicine , bladder cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , radiation therapy , disease , gold standard (test) , surgery , intensive care medicine , cancer , nursing
Again, the authors should be complimented for their thorough work. We still do not know whether the SN exists, but performing surgery with image-guidance provides quality control for completeness of resection and might help detect (positive?) lymph nodes outside of the extended PLND template. Indeed, up to 35% of prostate lymphatic drainage sites may remain outside the extended anatomical template [3]. SN detection might also teach us when and where to stop dissection to decrease potential morbidity of PLND without leaving tumour behind. Thus, chasing the ghost of the SN has made and makes us better and more meticulous cancer surgeons. At the same time, it is humbling that we have been chasing a ghost for so long without bringing up level 1 evidence.