Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen as a predictor of inguinofemoral lymph node metastasis in patients with vulvar cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of preoperatively determined squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) serum levels for the risk of inguinofemoral lymph node metastasis. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective trial, preoperative serum levels of SCC-Ag in 29 patients with invasive squamous cell vulvar cancer (pT1 + 2) were evaluated and compared with nodal status. RESULTS: Twenty patients had negative inguinofemoral nodes, whereas in nine an inguinofemoral lymph node metastasis could be observed. The median SCC-Ag in women with negative nodes was 1.3 micrograms/L (0.2-11.5) and with positive nodes, 2.7 micrograms/L (0.4-9.1) (P = .35). CONCLUSION: Measurement of the serum level of SCC-Ag cannot be used for preoperative evaluation of the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with clinically localized tumors since there is a significant overlap between both cohorts.