Backgrounds: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a widely accepted method for staging of melanoma and breast cancer in indicated cases. However, the use of the method in colorectal cancer is under clinical investigation. Design and Subjects: The aim of the prospective clinical study was to introduce the technique into the surgical practice in colon carcinoma, to determine the feasibility and potential problems and to evaluate the first results. 43 patients with colon cancer underwent lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy using blue dye, fluorescein oř lymphoscintigraphy followed by standard surgical resection.Methods and Results: The acquired sentinel nodes were investigated with both standard hematoxylin-eosinstaining and immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin. Lymphatic mapping adequately identified at least one sentinel node (SN) in all 43 patients. The average number of SN was 1,77; non-SN 14,51 per patient. SN correctly predicted the regional lymphatic basin status in more than 80 %. The falše negative SN was found out in 8 patients. One patient has been upstaged on the basis of immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions: Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in colon cancer is a feasible and safe method with a high SN identification rate. The role and significance of sentinel node biopsy in colon cancer is not as clear as its role in breast cancer or melanoma. Further large prospective studies with standardized techniques are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of this new method.

        Key words: colorectal cancer - lymphatic mapping - sentinel node - biopsy - surgery