[Sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck oncology]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Head and Neck Surgery

Background:

• Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was initially developed for melanoma and breast cancers.
• Application in head and neck cancers is recent due to lymphatic complexity and anatomical challenges.
• SLNB is validated for specific skin cancers like melanoma and Merkel carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the feasibility and oncologic safety of SLNB in head and neck malignancies.
• To evaluate SLNB as an alternative to comprehensive neck dissection for early-stage cancers.
• To explore the potential for improved patient outcomes and reduced morbidity.

Main Methods:

• Review of current applications and validation of SLNB in head and neck oncology.
• Focus on feasibility and safety in T1-T2N0 oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
• Discussion of technique modifications, such as tumor removal prior to SLNB for specific locations.

Main Results:

• SLNB is feasible and oncologically safe for T1-T2N0 oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
• Negative sentinel nodes allow avoidance of neck dissection, reducing morbidity.
• Potential for improved quality of life for patients with early-stage disease.

Conclusions:

• SLNB is a viable option for staging early-stage oral and oropharyngeal cancers.
• It offers a significant advantage by potentially avoiding unnecessary neck dissections.
• Ongoing development of new detection techniques may expand SLNB indications and accuracy.