title: Sentinel node biopsy as staging tool in a multimodality treatment approach to cancer of the oral cavity and the oropharynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in head and neck cancer as a staging tool embedded in a multimodality regimen including neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 patients with oral and anterior oropharyngeal cancer classified N0 by [18 F]FDG-PET underwent SLN scintigraphy. Selective SLN biopsy without elective neck dissection (ND) was performed, immediately followed by radical resection of the primary tumor. Histopathology included step-serial sections and immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lymphoscintigraphy detected 104 spots. In 15 patients there was bilateral drainage. 114 SLN were excised due to additional intraoperative discrimination. 95% of visualised SLN could be removed. Histology was positive in 3 patients (8%), all underwent ND which yielded another positive node in 2 cases. Median observation time was 30 months. Two patients (5%) had a neck relapse in combination with a second primary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLN biopsy as only surgical staging tool seems to be feasible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Method promises reduction of elective ND and morbidity in N0 patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Medical School, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. A.Kovacs@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Adorján F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Constantin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Landes
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamscho
authors.forename: Jörn H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Risse
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed