Systematic analysis of sentinel node diagnostics in patients with sinunasal malignancies

Introduction Elective regional lymph node dissections (ELND) in the therapy of sinunasal malignancies (SNM) became controversial. On the one hand, elective regional lymph node dissection (ELND) is assessed as being an overtreatment in cN0 cases, which is associated with morbidity and functional restriction without survival benefit. On the other hand, unrecognized occult lymphatic metastases worsen the prognosis. In the present study, we present initial treatment results of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in SNM.

Methods This study is a descriptive, monocentric, retrospective study. We studied all cases with a diagnosis of SNM treated in the period between 01.03.2020–13.10.2021 in the ENT Clinic – LMU Clinical Center Munich. SNB was performed in all cases. The following aspects were investigated: Localization of the tumor, tumor staging, tumor entity, localization of sentinel lymph nodes and possible postoperative complications.

Results A total of 10 SNM cases with different tumor entities were studied. The sentinel lymph nodes appeared in the ipsilateral neck region I, II and preauricular. All cases resulted in cN0 and pN0 status. No complications or locoregional recurrences occurred during the study period.

Discussion SNB represents a standard method in the treatment of breast cancer, vulvar carcinomas, and malignant melanomas. It has been shown that the morbidity and functional restrictions after a SNB are significantly lower compared to an axillary or inguinal complete lymph node dissection. Sentinel node biopsy may also be beneficial in the treatment of head and neck malignancies and requires further clinical investigation.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022