[Preliminary results of the relevance the sentinel node in head and neck tumors].

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to assess the value of the sentinel node (SN) in head and neck tumours and to create a lymphatic mapping of these tumors.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We prospectively studied 13 patients with head and neck tumours N0. We divided these patients in two groups depending on the location of the primary tumour. We injected colloidal particles of serum albumin labeled with Tc-99 peritumoraly and we located the SN intraoperatively. The SN was then sent for anatomopathological study.

RESULTS

In the oropharynx and oral cavity group, with 5 patients, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck in all of them. In the group of larynx and hypopharynx, with 8 patients, in 6, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck. In 2 patients, the SN was negative for metastases but there were metastases in the neck dissection.

CONCLUSIONS

This technique represents an advance over selective dissection as an accurate method of neck staging, but its value in this field remains unclear.