Sentinel lymph node biopsy for high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Analysis of recurrence-free survival

Abstract

No patient who had no micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes developed local and distant CSCC metastases during the follow-up period. Our report supports the concept that SLNB can be applied for CSCC. It is obvious that larger prospective studies with longer follow-up period are needed to establish the efficacy of SLNB and define the optimal treatment of occult nodal metastasis for CSCC.

High Risk Factors and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Analysis of Prevalence and Recurrence

“…This is the most commonly seen malignancy following basal cell carcinoma among the non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) (80%, 20%) (2). Its incidence may vary according to geographic regions (2)(3)(4).…”

“…Some patients defined as highrisk group have high rates of regional recurrence and distant metastasis, and follow an aggressive course. These cases are defined as high-risk group (2,(4)(5)(6). According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) reports, the most important high risk factors include diameter, depth, localization, and differentiation degree of the tumor, and the presence of perineural invasion (Table 1).…”

“…According to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) reports, the most important high risk factors include diameter, depth, localization, and differentiation degree of the tumor, and the presence of perineural invasion (Table 1). Recently, lymph node involvement also presents as an indicator for determination of high-risk group in CSCCs just like malignant melanomas (2,(4)(5)(6)(7).…”

“…The lymph node in the body region to which a malignant tumor first drains is named as sentinel lymph node (SLN). This is the first lymphoid target where tumors reach for the first time via lymphatic route (4,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The importance of SLN sampling in identification of the occult lymph node metastases has been established, and accepted as a prognostic factor (14).…”

“…There are quite variable rates in the literature related to SLN invasion, mean rate of positivity has been reported between 7.9% and 14.6% in some current recent reviews and meta-analyses (7,(10)(11)(12)(13). It has been proposed that patients with metastasis detected in SLN have a worse prognosis and a lower lifetime (2,4,5). In these studies underlining the importance of SLN sampling in the staging and prognosis of CSCCs, it has been stated that further studies to be performed in optimal conditions are needed about addition of the SLN positivity criterion in the staging guidelines (2,5,10).…”