title: Thin serial step sectioning of sentinel lymph node biopsy specimen may not be necessary to accurately stage the neck in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the predictability of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) when pathologic processing is performed without serial step sectioning.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively enrolled 36 patients with T1 or T2 cN0 OSCC into this institutional review board-approved prospective cohort study, and they underwent gamma probe-guided SNB in addition to selective neck dissection. The rate of patients with negative SNB results whose neck dissection was also negative for metastasis (negative predictive value) was the primary endpoint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 28 patients whose sentinel lymph nodes were found to be pathologically and clinically node negative by routine hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemistry, 27 were found to have no other pathologically positive nodes, corresponding to a negative predictive value of 96%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that SNB performed without the use of thin serial step sectioning may accurately predict neck stage in OSCC.
authors: Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Providence Cancer Center, Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR 97213, USA. bellb@hnsa1.com
authors: R Bryan
authors: RB
authors: Bell
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Markiewicz
authors: Eric J
authors: EJ
authors: Dierks
authors: Curtis E
authors: CE
authors: Gregoire
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Rader
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D007633:Keratins; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin