[Sentinel node biopsy in patients with oral cancer: a pilot study].
OBJECTIVE
Sentinel node (SN) biopsy represents an alternative to full lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of several malignant tumors.


METHODS
Prospective study of 32 consecutive patients with clinically node-negative oral cancer comparing SN biopsy results with standard neck dissection.


RESULTS
An effective SN localization was achieved in 31 patients (97%) and a complete agreement with neck dissection was observed: 16 were true negative and 15 were true positive. In 11 out of the 15 positive cases, the SN was the only node containing metastasis (73%).


CONCLUSIONS
SN biopsy predicts the subclinical lymph node status in oral cancer patients.
Servicio de Cirugía Maxilofacial, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
Joaquín
J
Anmella
Manuel
M
Fraile
Agustí
A
Salavert
Javier
J
Bara
Virginia
V
Vallejos
Joaquín
J
Riba
Montserrat
M
Solá
Eva
E
Castellà
Antoni
A
Alastrué
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy