2017 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 28-32
To evaluate the significance and indications of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we retrospectively studied 152 patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 72 of the 152 patients, of whom 6 were positive for metastasis (positivity rate of 7.9%). All the positive cases presented stage T2 tumors. Regimens of lymph node dissection were performed in 5 of the positive patients, and none of them have suffered relapse or metastasis so far (average observation period of 28.3 months). Although the findings of early lymph node metastasis obtained by sentinel lymph node biopsy may contribute to the improvement of prognosis, positive evidence is still lacking. Therefore, further accumulation of cases, as well as observations of long-term outcomes, will be necessary.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2017 ; 32 : 28-32]
