Johor Specialist Hospital (“JSH”) has successfully performed the Southern region’s first robotic assisted hysterectomy with sentinel node biopsy for a patient with early stage endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining). This marks an important step in broadening minimally invasive care for women facing this condition.

The surgery used a robotic system to remove the uterus while also identifying and sampling the “sentinel” lymph nodes, which are the first nodes that could show signs of cancer spread. The procedure used fluorescence imaging to help guide the surgical team in identifying the correct lymph nodes. This targeted approach helps doctors collect key information during the same operation and may prevent the need for more extensive lymph node removal.

The surgical team at JSH performs robotic-assisted surgery with fluorescence imaging to identify sentinel lymph nodes.

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. For many patients who are older or living with conditions such as obesity, traditional open procedures carry higher risks and longer recovery periods. Robotic and other keyhole techniques are designed to make surgery gentler, which may mean smaller incisions, less blood loss and shorter recovery for suitable patients.

Chin Keat Chyuan, President and Managing Director of KPJ Healthcare said “This milestone reflects our focus on innovation under the KPJ Health System to benefit patients and strengthen clinical practice. By expanding access to safer, less invasive surgical techniques, we are supporting our ‘Care for Life’ purpose while equipping our hospitals and specialists with the tools and training they need for the future of healthcare.”

Chin Keat Chyuan, President & Managing Director of KPJ Healthcare Berhad.

Dr Ahmad Shuib Yahaya, Consultant Gynaecologic Oncologist at JSH, who led the procedure, said “This technique allows us to focus on the few lymph nodes most likely to be affected instead of removing many unnecessarily. For patients, it can mean fewer complications and a smoother recovery, while still giving us the information we need to plan treatment.”

**Dr Ahmad Shuib Yahaya, Consultant Gynaecologic Oncologist at JSH** (fourth from right), leads his team in pioneering the robotic sentinel node biopsy for endometrial cancer.

Robotic surgery is increasingly used in Malaysia across different medical fields. At JSH, it is now applied in gynaecologic oncology as part of KPJ’s Health System transformation journey to expand advanced surgical options across its network, including gynaecology, urology and general surgery.

This milestone also supports KPJ’s journey to develop its Centres of Excellence and advance subspecialty integration. JSH continues to lead in subspecialty care, supported by a team that embodies advancements, precision and compassion.

The Johor Specialist Hospital building in Johor Bahru.

Through this journey, KPJ Healthcare continues to integrate clinical, education and research to ensure Malaysians have access to evolving standards of care delivered with safety and excellence.

For more information on JSH, visit https://kpjhealth.com.my/johor.

This content is provided by KPJ Healthcare

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