title: Review of sentinel node procedure in cN0 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Guidelines from the French evaluation cooperative subgroup of GETTEC.
abstract: The reliability of the sentinel lymph node (SN) technique has been established for more than ten years in T1-T2 oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Although most authors stress the necessity of rigorous implementation, there are no agreed guidelines. Moreover, other indications have been described, in other anatomical areas of the upper aerodigestive tract and in case of previous surgery or radiotherapy. SN expert teams, under the GETTEC head and neck tumor study group, conducted a review of the key points for implementation in head and neck cancers through guidelines and a review of classical and extended indications. Reliability depends on respecting key points of preoperative landmarking by lymphoscintigraphy, and intraoperative SN sampling and histological analysis. The SN technique is the best means of diagnosing occult lymph node involvement, whatever the primary tumor location, T stage or patient history.
authors.affiliation: Département d'ORL et chirurgie cervicofaciale A, hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, CHRU de Montpellier, 295, rue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France. Electronic address: r-garrel@chu-montpellier.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garrel
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire de la face et du cou, CHU de Nice, centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 31, avenue de Valombrose, CS63415, 06103 Nice cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poissonnet
authors.affiliation: Département d'ORL et de CCF, institut Gustave-Roussy, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94800 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Temam
authors.affiliation: Département de chirurgie cervico faciale, centre Alexis-Vautrin, 6, avenue de Bourgogne, 54519 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolivet
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et chirurgie cervicofaciale, hôpital de la Conception, 147, boulevard Baille, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fakhry
authors.affiliation: Service ORL et CCF, centre François-Baclesse, 3, avenue du Général-Harris, 14000 Caen, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Raucourt
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005602:France; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods
keywords: Cancer; GETTEC; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Lymphoscintigraphy; Micrometastasis; N0; Sentinel node