Intra-Operative Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Node Biopsy in Laryngeal Carcinoma: Preliminary Results

Sentinel node mapping has been used for laryngeal carcinoma in several studies, with excellent results thus far. In the current study, we report our preliminary results on sentinel node mapping in laryngeal carcinoma using intra-operative peri-tumoral injection of a radiotracer.

Patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx were included in the study. Two mCi/0.4 cc Tc-99m-phytate in four aliquots was injected on the day of surgery, after induction of anesthesia, in the sub-mucosal peri-tumoral location using a suspension laryngoscopy. After waiting for 10 minutes, a portable gamma probe was used to search for sentinel nodes. All patients underwent laryngectomy and modified radical bilateral neck dissection. All sentinel nodes and removed non-sentinel nodes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.

Ten patients with laryngeal carcinoma were included. At least one sentinel node could be detected in five patients (bilateral nodes in four patients). One patient had pathologically involved sentinel and non-sentinel nodes (no false-negative cases).

Sentinel node mapping in laryngeal carcinoma is technically feasible using an intra-operative radiotracer injection. In order to evaluate the relationship of T-stage and the laterality of the tumor with accuracy, larger studies are needed.