Sentinel lymph node biopsy for early oral cancer - accuracy and considerations in patient selection.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for staging oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients presenting with early (T1 and T2 N0) disease in preference to elective neck dissection (END) remains controversial worldwide. A retrospective analysis of 145 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy for a previously untreated early oral cancer between 2010 and 2020 was performed. The primary outcome measures were predictors of occult metastases, accuracy of SLNB and disease specific plus overall survival.

Periorbital necrotising soft tissue infection in a 12-year-old patient.

Head and neck necrotising soft-tissue infection is exceptionally uncommon in the paediatric population. necrotising soft-tissue infection is severe and often life-threatening. Rapid spread of infection and systemic illness make necrotising soft-tissue infection a challenge for the medical and surgical teams.

Is the 8th edition of the Union for International Cancer Control staging of oral cancer good enough?

Depth of invasion is an important predictor of survival. A study by the International Consortium (ICOR) for Outcome Research proposed incorporation of it (together with the greatest surface dimension, or the anatomical criteria, or both) into the T stage. This has been adopted in part by the 8th edition of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM 8 classification of malignant tumours for oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).