Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) demonstrates a sensitivity of only 52.6%, significantly lower than in other cutaneous malignancies.
The procedure failed in 29.0% of cases, with failure significantly associated with tumor location, female sex, and advanced age.
Lymphovascular invasion (LVI), infiltrative growth patterns, and tumor size are the strongest predictors of occult nodal disease.
Negative or failed SLNB results in this region may require intensified surveillance or adjuvant therapy due to a false-negative rate of 26.7%.
Background: The Challenge of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in the Head and Neck
