title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy for head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A retrospective preliminary study assessed the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the management of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with stage I or II head and neck MCC underwent SLNB over a 4-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 1 of the 12 patients had a positive SLNB. The sentinel node was not identified in 3 patients. Two of the 8 patients with negative SLNB showed regional lymph node recurrence within 2years. One patient died during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Merkel cell carcinoma is an uncommon but highly aggressive pathology; management protocols have been based on small series. The role of SLNB in the management of MCC remains to be defined.
authors: Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Centre François-Xavier-Michelet, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France. Electronic address: anne-sophie.ricard@chu-bordeaux.fr.
authors: A-S
authors: AS
authors: Ricard
authors: Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Centre François-Xavier-Michelet, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors: Q
authors: Q
authors: Sessiecq
authors: Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Centre François-Xavier-Michelet, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Siberchicot
authors: Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Saint-André, 1, rue Jean-Burguet, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Jouary
authors: Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Centre François-Xavier-Michelet, Hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Laurentjoye
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Lymphoscintigraphy; Merkel cell carcinoma; Sentinel node biopsy