title: [Prognostic value of sentinel lymph node in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine skin tumor. The aim of our study was to analyze the prognosis of patients operated on for CCM and having no lymph node involvement after analysis of sentinel lymph node (SLN).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study of 10 cases of CCM stage I or II who received the SLN technique in our institution between 2003 and 2010. RESULTS Among the 10 patients, 7 had an identification of at least one SLN, among which the node could be surgically removed in 6 cases. In cases of failure of SLN technique, a neck dissection +/- parotidectomy was performed. No lymph node metastasis was found in our series. Mean follow-up was 38 months. The overall survival rate was 100% at 2 years and 50% at 5 years. The Disease-free survival was 85% at 2 and 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the technique of sentinel lymph node is a reliable tool for evaluating nodal status of patients with CCM and that pN0 patients have a good prognosis.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penicaud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cammilleri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taïeb
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovanni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dessi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakhry
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate