Inguinofemoral Lymphadenectomy

Inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy is a surgical treatment to remove inguinofemoral lymph node metastases involving at least three lymph nodes. Because gynecological cancers spread to the inguinofemoral lymph nodes, this is the area of greatest concern for initial treatment, since the malignancy can spread onward from the lymph node to the vulva, clitoris and Bartholin's glands, although removing the lymph nodes takes priority over immediately removing a small, localized tumor. Complications can include delayed wound healing, lymphocele formation, bleeding, blood clot formation, and decreased sensation on the inside of the thigh, probably caused by injury to the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve.