The value of lymphoscintigraphy for cervical sentinel lymph node detection in patients with clinically N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the value of lymphoscintigraphy for cervical sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Twenty-one patients with clinically N0 oral squamous carcinoma underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative methylene blue location. The results were compared with pathological findings. Results: 1) The sensitivity of lymphoscintigraphy for detecting SLN was 100%(21/21), and methylene blue was 85% (17/20). 2)Both SLN biopsy and cervical ablative dissection confirmed that 33.3% (7/21) patients were with cervical lymph node metastasis. Fourteen non-metastatic SLNs comfirmed by biopsy were also proved with the findings of neck dissection, and the specificity was 100%. Conclusion: Lymphoscintigraphy can detect the cervical SLN and accurately predict cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.(authors)