The Value of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Oral Cavity Cancers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the effectiveness of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the detection of metastasis in N0 necks of T1-T2 early-stage oral cavity cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty neck dissections were performed in 18 patients diagnosed with T1 and T2 oral cavity cancer, with an indication for elective neck dissection between November 2007 and January 2011. The male to female ratio was 12:8, with a mean age of 54.5 years (range 28-76). Eight of the dissections were performed for lower lip cancer, 7 for tongue cancer, and 5 for floor of the mouth cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was used to detect metastatic lymph nodes. Tc99m radionuclide injection was administered to the periphery of the tumor 24 h before the operation, and a lymphoscintigraphy image was obtained 30 min after the injection. Sentinel lymph nodes were localized and excised on the day of surgery using static lymphoscintigraphy images and a gamma probe. Sentinel lymph nodes were sent for a frozen section examination, and either a selective or a comprehensive neck dissection was performed for each neck according to the results. RESULTS: After the final histopathological examination of the specimens, the negative predictive value, the positive predictive value, the accuracy of the sentinel lymph node biopsy, and frozen section accuracy were found to be 100%. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy was found to be an efficient method in the pathological staging and management of the N0 neck in early T-stage oral cavity cancers.

Migration of a swallowed blunt foreign body to the neck.

Ingestion of foreign bodies is a common problem in the otolaryngology practice. Reports of extraluminal migration of the foreign bodies from the upper aerodigestive tract are rare. Penetration and extraluminal migration of ingested foreign bodies may cause severe vascular and suppurative complications, even death. We report a 4-year-old girl who presented with a mass and partial extrusion of a foreign body in the neck. She had a history of ingesting the plastic top piece of a knitting needle approximately 1 year ago. She had been asymptomatic until the present time. The examination revealed a red, blunt, rectangular plastic foreign body half embedded in the skin of the right neck. Esophagography with barium swallow, cervical X-rays, and computed tomography scans were obtained. The foreign body was easily removed under general anesthesia. Primary closure and direct laryngoscopy was also performed. The patient recovered very well without any complications.

Primary oral cancer in a Turkish population sample: association with sociodemographic features, smoking, alcohol, diet and dentition.

The aim of this multicentre case-control study was to investigate the association of a variety of factors with oral cancer in a group of Turkish patients. Questionnaires were used to investigate the sociodemographic features, smoking and alcohol consumptions, dietary habits and dental status of 79 primary oral cancer patients and 61 controls. Data were statistically analysed with Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson Chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses to determine the odds ratios. Low level of education, gender, dietary habits, having poor oral hygiene and denture sores were associated with primary oral cancer in this patient sample; but eating salads and raw vegetables, fish, and drinking red wine were related with healthy status. Determination of the factors associated with oral cancer and of the high-risk groups would be beneficial to provide efficient screening protocols and prevention programmes for oral cavity cancers.