Sentinel lymph node biopsy for early squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity: Real-world experience in Brazil

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Matos, Leandro Luongo ; Capuzzo, Renato Castro ; Galbiatti Pedruzzi, Paola Andrea ; Farias, Terence ; Mourao de Farias, Jose Wilson ; Chone, Carlos Takahiro ; Kohler, Hugo Fontan ; Vartanian, Jose Guilherme ; Dias, Fernando Luiz ; Couto, Eduardo Vieira ; Pinto, Fabio Roberto ; Carvalho, Andre Lopes ; Kowalski, Luiz Paulo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK; v. 44, n. 7, p. 12-pg., 2022-04-15.

Abstract

Background This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and oncological results of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with early lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a real-world scenario. Methods Retrospective study including seven Brazilian centers. Results Four-hundred and seven cN0 patients were accrued for 20 years. The rate of occult metastasis was 23.1% and 22 patients (5.4%) had regional failure. We found, for 5 years of follow-up, 85.3% of regional recurrence-free survival; 77.1% of disease-free survival; 73.7% of overall survival; and 86.7% of disease-specific survival. The rate of false-negative cases was 5.4%. Conclusion In a real-world scenario, sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with SCC of the lip and oral cavity proved feasible in different settings and to be oncologically safe, with similar rates of occult lymph node metastasis and false-negative cases, when compared to elective neck dissection, and with similar long-term survival to that reported historically. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/07459-6 - Infrared guided surgery for localization of sentinel lymph node in early oral cavity cancer
• Grantee: André Lopes Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants