Comparison of morbidity between sentinel node biopsy and elective neck dissection for treatment of the n0 neck in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has been proposed for staging of the cN0 neck in early oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Because SNB is a minimally invasive procedure, it is thought to be associated with less morbidity than elective neck dissection.
Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients were included from 2000 to 2009. Two groups were analyzed consisting of 33 patients after SNB and 29 after elective neck dissection. Subjective impairment and functional shoulder status were assessed with the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) questionnaire and the modified individual relative Constant Score. Postoperative complications were retrieved from the clinical charts.
Results: The investigated scores were significantly better in the SNB group. All postoperative complications occurred in the elective neck dissection group.
Conclusion: SNB is associated with significantly less postoperative morbidity and better shoulder function than elective neck dissection. This supports our opinion that patients with nodal negative early SCC of the oral cavity should be offered SNB.
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