Abstract

Limited data exist on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) of the head and neck. To review the results of SLNB for patients with cSCC of the head and neck at the authors' institution. A retrospective review was completed for patients who underwent SLNB for cSCC of the head and neck over 19 years. Patient demographics, immune status, tumor stage, total patients with positive SLNB, local recurrence, nodal recurrence, in-transit metastasis, and disease-specific death were recorded. Sixty patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy, and an SLN was identified in 58 patients. The mean follow-up was 3.2 years (range, 15 days-16 years). Four patients (6.9%) had a positive SLNB. All were Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) stage T2b tumors. Three of these patients were immunosuppressed, 3 patients underwent neck dissection, and 2 patients received adjuvant radiation. None developed local or regional recurrence. Of the 53 patients with a negative SLNB, there were 4 local recurrences, 2 in-transit metastases, and no nodal recurrences. Immunosuppressed patients with tumors BWH stage T2b or greater may be a reasonable cohort to focus future prospective studies on the utility of SLNB in cSCC of the head and neck.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.