In recent years, a procedure called the ‘Sentinel’ procedure has been introduced which tests the lymph nodes by draining the tumor. Its main advantage is that it eliminates the need to remove the other glands surrounding the lymph nodes. To date, this method has been used only in tumors in the breast and the vulvar.
Due to technological limitations it was never performed on tumors in lymph nodes within the abdomen since the materials used for tumors in the breast and the vulvar were not effective enough and their detection capability was relatively low.
Now, for the first time at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov), using the latest and most advanced Da Vinci Xi robot, which can only be found in our hospital, it is possible. And for the first time we removed a lymph node tumor from inside an abdomen.
Thanks to the complex and innovative technological system that is installed in the robot, which includes fluorescent imaging and a unique advanced HD camera, the tumor is dyed enabling the doctor to locate it in real time while they are inside the abdomen.
Almost 100% accuracy in the identification of the sentinel lymph nodes is achieved when using this procedure, sparing women extensive surgery and severe long term side effects.”