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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy for Endometrial Cancer at Early Stage with Laparoscopy
Published on: August 19, 2021
Cost Comparison of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Elective Neck Dissection in Early-Stage Oral Cavity Squamous
Shannon S Wu1, Noel F Ayoub1, Michelle M Chen1
1Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Background:
Elective neck dissection (END) is the standard treatment for early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). This study compared costs of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and END from the Medicare payer perspective.
Methods:
Thirty-two patients with T1-2N0M0 OCSCC (16 SLNB and 16 END) treated at an academic institution from 2017 to 2025 were included.
Results:
32 patients were included: median age 62, 46.9% male, 38% had adjuvant RT. The SLNB cohort had shorter operative time and length-of-stay. Four patients had reoperations: 2 after SLNB (completion neck dissection, tumor re-resection) and 2 after END (neck hematomas). The SLNB cohort had lower costs for postoperative admission ($9567 vs. $12 920, p = 0.015). Total costs were not statistically different ($19 777 vs. $22 126, p = 0.45). On break-even analysis, SLNB with a completion ND rate ≤ 35% had lower costs than END.
Conclusions:
Costs of SLNB were 10.6% less than END, and remained lower with completion ND rates ≤ 35%.
