title: Feasibility of endoscopic sentinel node biopsy in the porcine neck.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. kelly.malloy@jefferson.edu
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cognetti
authors.forename: Bernadette M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wildemore
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.forename: Edmund A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pribitkin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: 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