Background: The aim of this study was to ascertain which factors determine success of sentinel node biopsy (SNB).
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 121 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing SNB to stage the neck. All patients underwent the triple-diagnostic procedure of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative blue dye, and a gamma probe. Factors contributing to failure of SNB were identified.
Results: SNB was unsuccessful in 12 of 121 patients (10%). Seven of the 12 patients had cT1/cT2 tumors, and 6 of these were located in the floor of mouth. SN identification was more likely to be successful in patients with cN0 necks, but this did not reach statistical significance (92% vs 84%, p = .268). Factors associated with failure included T classification (p = .01), tumor site (p = .05), and negative preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (p = .0174).
Conclusion: Successful sentinel lymph node harvest is related to primary tumor site, T classification, and the presence of nodes on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy.