title: Sentinel node biopsy in early oral squamous cell carcinomas: a 10-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reliability of the sentinel node (SN) biopsy in early oral squamous cell carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a primary prospective study on 53 consecutive patients presenting T1, T2 N0 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity between January 2000 and June 2003. Primary results demonstrated a negative predictive value of 100%. The series was then extended until June 2010, with a total number of 166 successful procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cohort accounted for 118 males and 48 females with a mean age of 56 years. The median follow-up period was 36 months. There were 42 patients (25%) with positive SNs, 14 of them (33%) only harboring micrometastasis. The negative predictive value of the sentinel node biopsy was 95.2%. The SN involvement was strongly correlated with the tumor location (34% of SN+ for the tongue vs. 13% for the floor of mouth, P = .003), tumor stage (18% of SN+ for T1 vs. 40% for T2, P = .002), depth of invasion (median depth for SN+ lesions was 6.5 mm vs. 4 mm for SN- lesions, P = .028), and lymphovascular involvement (P = .002). The false-negative rate of frozen section examination was 42%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sentinel node biopsy appears to be an excellent staging method in early oral cancers. This study also provides evidence that routinely undiagnosed micrometastasis may have clinical significance.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif, France. antoinemelkane@gmail.com
authors: Antoine E
authors: AE
authors: Melkane
authors: Gérard
authors: G
authors: Mamelle
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Wycisk
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Temam
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Janot
authors: Odile
authors: O
authors: Casiraghi
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Lumbroso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck