OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of intra-operativedetection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in the patient withendometrial cancer (EC).METHODS Thirty-one patients with Stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ endometrialcancer, who underwent a hysterectomy and a lymphadenectomy,were enrolled in the study. At laparotomy, methylene blue dyetracer was injected into the subserosal myometrium of corpusuteri at multiple sites, and dye uptake into the lymphatic channelswas observed. The blue nodes which were identified as SLNs weretraced and excised. The other nodes were then removed. All of theexcised nodes were submitted for pathological hematoxylin andeosin (H&E) staining examination.RESULTS Failure of dye uptake occurred in 4 of the 31 cases(12.9%) because of spillage, and no lymphatic coloration wasobserved there. Lymphatic staining was clearly observable as bluedye diffused to the lymphatic channels of the uterine surface andthe infundibulopelvic ligaments in 27 (87.1%) cases. Concurrentcoloration in the pelvic lymphatic vessels was also observed in 22of the 27 patients. The SLNs were identified in 23 of the 27 (85.2%)cases with a lymphatic staining, with a total number of 90 SLNs,and a mean of 3.9 in each case (range, 1-10). Besides one SLN (1.1%)in the para-aortic area, the other 89 (98.9%) were in the nodes ofthe pelvis. The most dense locations of SLNs included obturator in38 (42.2%) and interiliac in 19 (21.1%) cases. In our group, pelviclymphadenectomy was conducted in 27 (87.1%) patients andpelvic nodal sampling in 4 (12.9%). Of the 31 cases, a concurrentabdominal para-aortic lymph node sampling was conducted in7. A total of 926 nodes were harvested, with an average of 39.8 ineach case (range, 14-55). Nodal metastases occurred in 3 patients(9.7%), 2 of them with SLN involvement and the other withoutSLN involvement. Adverse reactions or injury related to the studywas not found.CONCLUSION Application of methylene blue dye is feasible inan intra-operative SLN identification of endometrial cancer. Thetechnology is convenient, safe, and worth further investigation. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of intra-operative detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in the patient withendometrial cancer (EC). METHODS Thirty-one patients with Stage I and II endometrial cancer, who underwent a hysterectomy and a lymphadenectomy, were enrolled in the study . At laparotomy, methylene blue dyetracer was injected into the subserosal myometrium of corpusuteri at multiple sites, and dye uptake into the lymphatic channelswas observed. The blue nodes which were identified as as were transferred and excised. The other nodes were then removed. All of thecised lymph nodes were submitted for pathological hematoxylin andeosin (H & E) staining examination .RESULTS Failure of dye uptake occurred in 4 of the 31 cases (12.9%) because of spillage, and no lymphatic coloration wasobserved there. Lymphatic staining was clearly observable as bluedye diffused to the lymphatic channels of the uterine surface and the infundibulopelvic ligaments in 27 (87.1%) cases. Concurrentcoloration in the The SLNs were identified in 23 of the 27 (85.2%) cases with a lymphatic staining, with a total number of 90 SLNs, and a mean of 3.9 in each case (range, The most dense locations of SLNs included obturator in 38 (42.2%) and interiliac in 19 (98%) were in the para-aortic area, the other 89 (21.1%) cases of our group, pelviclymphadenectomy was conducted in 27 (87.1%) patients and pelvic nodal sampling in 4 (12.9%). Of the 31 cases, a concurrentabdominal para-aortic lymph node sampling was conducted in 7. A total of 926 nodes were harvested, with an average of 39.8 ineach cases (range, 14-55). Nodal metastases occurred in 3 patients (9.7%), 2 of them with SLN involvement and the other withoutSLN involvement. Adverse reactions or injury related to the studywas not found.CONCLUSION Application of methylene blue dye is feasible inan intra-operative SLN identification of endo metrial cancer. Thetechnology is convenient, safe, and worth further investigation.