[Preliminary results of the relevance the sentinel node in head and neck tumors]. / Resultados preliminares de la utilidad del ganglio centinela en tumores de cabeza y cuello.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the value of the sentinel node (SN) in head and neck tumours and to create a lymphatic mapping of these tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 13 patients with head and neck tumours N0. We divided these patients in two groups depending on the location of the primary tumour. We injected colloidal particles of serum albumin labeled with Tc-99 peritumoraly and we located the SN intraoperatively. The SN was then sent for anatomopathological study. RESULTS: In the oropharynx and oral cavity group, with 5 patients, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck in all of them. In the group of larynx and hypopharynx, with 8 patients, in 6, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck. In 2 patients, the SN was negative for metastases but there were metastases in the neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: This technique represents an advance over selective dissection as an accurate method of neck staging, but its value in this field remains unclear.

Resultados preliminares de la utilidad del ganglio centinela en tumores de cabeza y cuello / Preliminary results of the relevance the sentinel node in head and neck tumours

Objetivos: El objetivo del presente estudio es comprobar el valor del ganglio centinela (GC) en tumores de cabeza y cuello y elaborar un mapa linfográfico de dichos tumores. Material y métodos: Estudiamos prospectivamente 13 pacientes con carcinomas de cabeza y cuello N0, divididos en dos grupos según la localización tumoral. Inyectamos peritumoralmente Tc-99 marcado con albúmina coloidal e identificamos el GC intraoperatoriamente. Éste es enviado para estudio anatomopatológico separadamente del vaciamiento cervical. Resultados: En el grupo de cavidad oral y orofaringe, con 5 pacientes, el GC predijo correctamente el estadio cervical en todos ellos. En el grupo de laringe e hipofaringe, con 8 pacientes, en 6 casos el GC predijo correctamente el estadio cervical. En 2 casos el GC resultó negativo para tumor, encontrándose metástasis en el resto del vaciamiento. Conclusiones: Esta técnica representa una ventaja sobre los vaciamientos cervicales como método de estadiaje cervical, pero su valor en este campo todavía permanece incierto (AU)

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the value of the sentinel node (SN) in head and neck tumours and to create a lymphatic mapping of these tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 13 patients with head and neck tumours N0. We divided these patients in two groups depending on the location of the primary tumour. We injected colloidal particles of serum albumin labeled with Tc-99 peritumoraly and we located the SN intraoperatively. The SN was then sent for anatomopathological study. RESULTS: In the oropharynx and oral cavity group, with 5 patients, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck in all of them. In the group of larynx and hypopharynx, with 8 patients, in 6, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck. In 2 patients, the SN was negative for metastases but there were metastases in the neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: This technique represents an advance over selective dissection as an accurate method of neck staging, but its value in this field remains unclear (AU)