title: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in select sarcoma patients: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a staging technique for occult lymph node disease. SLN biopsy has been applied to select patients with sarcoma, although the clinical utility remains uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was performed, and SLN biopsy outcomes were analyzed using a Bayesian meta-analytic approach to obtain point and interval estimates of rates of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen studies involving SLN biopsy in patients with sarcoma were identified. Of 114 patients reported, 14 patients had positive SLNs (crude estimate, 12%; meta-analysis estimate, 17%). The meta-analysis false-negative rate was 29% (95% credible interval, 5%-59%). Recurrence and death rates in the SLN-positive group were higher than in the SLN-negative group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation highlights the current role of SLN biopsy in select patients with sarcoma for tumor staging. Questions regarding the high false-negative rate and management of micrometastatic lymphatic disease in patients with sarcoma still exist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina and Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Sharee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armeson
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Streck
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leddy
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Esnaola
authors.forename: E Ramsay
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Camp
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008390:Markov Chains; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018227:Sarcoma, Clear Cell / Q000473:pathology; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000473:pathology; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy