Sentinel lymph node biopsy for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

To describe outcomes of a single institution experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Retrospective case series.

Chart review was performed for patients who presented with clinically node negative cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck between December 2007 and May 2018. Patients who met high-risk criteria underwent SLNB and excision, with or without adjuvant therapy. Patients who underwent prior neck dissection were excluded. The main outcomes were SLNB result, lymph node spread, recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival.

Eighty-three patients underwent successful SLNB, and one patient underwent selective neck dissection for intraoperatively identified occult lymph node metastasis. Five patients (6%) had a sentinel node positive for tumor, of whom 4/5 received further treatment (neck dissection, radiation, and/or systemic therapy) with no further recurrence at the time of last follow-up. SLNB had a negative predictive value of 95% to 100%. Recurrent tumor at presentation, tumor arising from an area of chronic inflammation, and immunosuppression were significantly associated with increased risk of subsequent recurrence, with a mean follow-up of 19.9 months.

SLNB can be used to identify regional lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with a high negative predictive value (95%-100%). Factors associated with recurrence were tumor being locally recurrent at presentation, arising from an area of chronic inflammation, and immunosuppression.

4 Laryngoscope, 130:108-114, 2020.