title: Role of sentinel node biopsy in the management and staging of the N0 neck.
abstract: Sentinel node biopsy is being increasingly used as a staging tool for mucosal head and neck cancer. This review of the literature summarizes the results of research into the procedure when it has been performed in three main contexts: as part of an ipsilateral neck dissection, as a stand-alone procedure to stage the neck for positive or negative disease, and as a means of investigating the non-involved or contralateral neck in tumors close to or crossing the midline. The role of the procedure is discussed and the difficulties encountered are expanded, with a particular emphasis on pitfalls of the technique, caveats, and its potential role for the future.
authors.affiliation: Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Jubilee Building, Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF, UK. gary@durnford92.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Taimur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shoaib
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy