Simple Summary With 30% of clinically negative early-stage oral cancer patients harboring
occult metastasis, an accurate staging of metastatic lymph nodes (LN) is of utmost
importance for treatment planning. A magnetic sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)
procedure is offered as an alternative to conventional SLNB in oral oncology, however, a
grading system is missing. A proper grading system is preferred to connect the different
components of the magnetic SLNB: preoperative imaging, intraoperative detection, and …

A magnetic sentinel lymph node biopsy ((SLN) B) procedure has recently been shown
feasible in oral cancer patients. However, a grading system is absent for proper identification
and classification, and thus for clinical reporting. Based on data from eight complete
magnetic SLNB procedures, we propose a provisional grading system. This grading system
includes:(1) a qualitative five-point grading scale for MRI evaluation to describe iron uptake
by LNs;(2) an ex vivo count of resected SLN with a magnetic probe to quantify iron amount; …