Exploring the Role of Intraoperative Frozen Section of the Sentinel Lymph Node in the Management of Early-Staged Oral Tongue Cancers

Background: The present study aims to explore the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with intraoperative frozen section in the management of early-staged oral tongue cancers.

Materials and methods: Fifty-two patients with clinical stages cT1/2N0 oral tongue cancers were included in the present study. The curative surgery was preceded by the performance of an SLNB using a dual technique.

Results: The identification rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in this study was 98.07%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and the negative predictive value (NPV) of SLNB were 88.2%, 100%, 100%, and 94.5%, respectively. Further, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and the NPV of intraoperative frozen section of the SLN were 70.5%, 100%, 100%, and 87.5%, respectively.

Conclusions: The addition of intraoperative frozen section could identify 70.5% of patients with occult metastasis. An intraoperative frozen section assessment of sentinel node has the potential to change the overall management of patients with early-oral tongue cancers.