Comparison of sentinel lymph node biopsy and elective neck dissection for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients with clinically node-negative necks: systematic review and meta-analysis

Y J Kang; M J Kang; H S Ahn; S H Hwang

doi:10.1017/S0022215122002043

Comparison of sentinel lymph node biopsy and elective neck dissection for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients with clinically node-negative necks: systematic review and meta-analysis

J Laryngol Otol. 2023 Jun;137(6):599-607. doi: 10.1017/S0022215122002043. Epub 2022 Sep 12.

Authors

Y J Kang¹, M J Kang², H S Ahn³, S H Hwang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
² Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
³ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Yeouido St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Bucheon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

PMID: 36089746
DOI: 10.1017/S0022215122002043

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the prognostic utility of sentinel node biopsy and elective neck dissection in early stage clinically node-negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Method: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to March 2022. Hazard ratios, Kaplan-Meier curves, p-values and survival outcomes were extracted.

Results: Twelve studies involving 10 583 patients were included. No significant differences in overall survival between sentinel node biopsy and elective neck dissection groups were found. Heterogeneity was not detected in pooled overall survival, disease-free survival and disease-specific survival analyses (all I² less than 50). In subgroup analyses by follow-up period, sentinel node biopsy and elective neck dissection had similar prognostic value.

Conclusion: Sentinel node biopsy might be a valuable alternative to elective neck dissection for the management of early stage clinically node-negative oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Lymph Nodes; Meta-Analysis; Mouth Neoplasms; Neck Dissection; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; Survival.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Head and Neck Neoplasms* / pathology
Humans
Lymph Nodes / pathology
Lymph Nodes / surgery
Mouth Neoplasms*
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Staging
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / pathology
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / surgery