[A diagnostic meta-analysis: sentinel lymph node biopsy for neck metastasis in patients with early oral squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of sentinel lymph node biopsy in diagnosis of cervical metastasis in patients with early oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Cochrane library, evidence-based medicine (EBM), PubMed, China national knowledge internet (CNKI) were searched for 2001 - 2011 literatures on sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma as early diagnosis of cervical metastasis. The results were analysed by using Meta-analysis software Metadisc1.4. RESULTS: There were 12 studies in which, a total of 793 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were involved in Meta-analysis. The combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.81 - 0.90) and 0.99 (95%CI: 0.98 - 1.00) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For early oral cancer patients, the sensitivity and specificity of sentinel lymph node biopsy are relatively high. The sentinel lymph node biopsy could be used to select which patients need neck dissection.