Feasibility of endoscopic sentinel node biopsy in the porcine neck.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of endoscopic sentinel node biopsy (SNB) using a tracer dye in a pig model.


METHODS
This was a prospective, nonrandomized experimental study in Yorkshire pigs. The posterolateral tongues of three animals were injected with a one-to-one solution of carbon dye to methylene blue dye. Endoscopic SNB was performed and stained lymph nodes identified and retrieved, followed by an open dissection to recover any remaining nodes. Specimens were analyzed by a pathologist for staining, size, and structural integrity.


RESULTS
Six unilateral endoscopic SNBs were performed without complications. During endoscopic dissection, gross blue-staining of a sentinel node was noted in four of six dissections (66%). One of six sentinel nodes demonstrated histologic evidence of carbon staining. Structural integrity of all nodes was intact upon histological evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic cervical SNB in pigs is feasible but has limitations based on lymph node size and reliability of tracer dyes. Further study is warranted to perfect tracer dyes and retrieval methods to improve this technique.
Malloy
Kelly M
KM
Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. kelly.malloy@jefferson.edu
Cognetti
David M
DM
Wildemore
Bernadette M
BM
Cunnane
Mary F
MF
Keane
William M
WM
Pribitkin
Edmund A
EA
Rosen
David
D
D000818:Animals; D004724:Endoscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine