This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ross, G.L. Articles by Gray, H.W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ross, G.L. Articles by Gray, H.W.

The First International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer and Adoption of a Multicenter Trial Protocol

From the Plastic Surgery Unit (GLR, TS, DSS, IGC), Canniesburn Hospital; Oral Pathology Unit (DGM), Glasgow Dental Hospital and School; and the Departments of Clinical Physics (RGB) and Nuclear Medicine (RGB, HWG), Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Gary Ross, Head and Neck Research Fellow, Plastic Surgery Unit, Canniesburn Hospital, Switchback Rd., Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1QL, UK; Fax: 44-141-211-5652; E-mail: gary.ross{at}canniesburn.org

Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a new technique in staging the clinically N0 neck. On June 25 and 26, 2001, the First International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer took place in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Methods: Twenty-two centers contributed results on the use of SNB as a staging tool in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The pathology of the sentinel node was compared with that of the pathologic neck specimen.

Results: Three hundred sixteen clinically N0 necks were included. Sentinel nodes were identified in 301 necks (95%). Of these 301 necks, 76 necks were staged positive with SNB, and 225 were staged negative. The overall sensitivity of the procedure was 90%. Centers who had performed 10 cases had a lower sensitivity (57%), discovering only 4 of 7 metastatic nodes, in comparison with 72 of 77 metastatic nodes discovered for centers that had performed >10 cases (sensitivity, 94%).

Conclusions: The cumulative results of all those who contributed to the first international conference confirm that there is a role for SNB for staging the clinically N0 neck, and it has a similar sensitivity to that of a staging neck dissection.

Key Words: Head and neck • Neoplasms • Sentinel node biopsy • Elective neck dissection

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C.-Y. Yen, S.-Y. Lee, J.-F. Hsieh, D.-Z. Wang, G.-N. Lin, C.-M. Tsai, and S.-Y. Liu Radiolocalized Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Analysis of Various Parameters Ann. Surg. Oncol., August 1, 2006; 13(8): 1130 - 1135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Garrel, M. Dromard, V. Costes, E. Barbotte, F. Comte, Q. Gardiner, C. Cartier, M. Makeieff, L. Crampette, B. Guerrier, et al. The Diagnostic Accuracy of Reverse Transcription-PCR Quantification of Cytokeratin mRNA in the Detection of Sentinel Lymph Node Invasion in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Comparison with Immunohistochemistry Clin. Cancer Res., April 15, 2006; 12(8): 2498 - 2505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Stoeckli, M. Pfaltz, G. L. Ross, H. C. Steinert, D. G. MacDonald, C. Wittekind, and D. S. Soutar The Second International Conference on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer Ann. Surg. Oncol., November 1, 2005; 12(11): 919 - 924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Smith, B. E. Lally, B. G. Haffty, and L. D. Wilson Do PET and SNB Reduce the Rate of Elective Neck Dissection? A Hypothesis Still in Need of Validation J. Clin. Oncol., April 20, 2005; 23(12): 2874 - 2875. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. L. Ross, D. S. Soutar, D. Gordon MacDonald, T. Shoaib, I. Camilleri, A. G. Roberton, J. A. Sorensen, J. Thomsen, P. Grupe, J. Alvarez, et al. Sentinel Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Cancer: Preliminary Results of a Multicenter Trial Ann. Surg. Oncol., July 1, 2004; 11(7): 690 - 696. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.L. Ross, D.S. Soutar, D.G. MacDonald, T. Shoaib, I.G. Camilleri, and A.G. Robertson Improved Staging of Cervical Metastases in Clinically Node-Negative Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Ann. Surg. Oncol., February 1, 2004; 11(2): 213 - 218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Even-Sapir, H. Lerman, G. Lievshitz, A. Khafif, D. M. Fliss, A. Schwartz, E. Gur, Y. Skornick, and S. Schneebaum Lymphoscintigraphy for Sentinel Node Mapping Using a Hybrid SPECT/CT System J. Nucl. Med., September 1, 2003; 44(9): 1413 - 1420. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G L Ross, D S Soutar, T Shoaib, I G Camilleri, D G MacDonald, A G Robertson, R G Bessent, and H W Gray The ability of lymphoscintigraphy to direct sentinel node biopsy in the clinically N0 neck for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Br. J. Radiol., December 1, 2002; 75(900): 950 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Ross, T. Shoaib, D. S. Soutar, I. G. Camilleri, H. W. Gray, R. G. Bessent, A. G. Robertson, and D. G. MacDonald The Use of Sentinel Node Biopsy to Upstage the Clinically N0 Neck in Head and Neck Cancer Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, November 1, 2002; 128(11): 1287 - 1291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]