Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Introduction: The sentinel node biopsy concept has been gaining approval in the head and neck cancer literature and several pilot studies have been published. Hence in the present study we aimed to systematically assess the diagnostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)and the elective neck dissection(END) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. Material and methods: A systematic literature review was done using MEDLINE from 1980 to 2014 by combining oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC keywords with sentinel node biopsy keywords. We comprised diagnostic accuracy studies which used neck dissection as a reference test for the sentinel node biopsy. Study characteristics and measures of accuracy were extracted. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated. Results: A total of 35 studies (1121 patients) were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 93%, 100%, 35.89%, .12%, 282.7%, 100%, 97% and 97.8%, respectively. Conclusions: High sensitivity, negative predictive value and accuracy of SLNB support its role as a valid diagnostic technique to correctly stage cN0 patients with OCSCC and OPSCC.