A single-center retrospective cohort (n=86) demonstrates sentinel node biopsy for Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck can identify roughly half of patients with clinically-occult nodal disease but produces meaningful rates of failure (29%) and false-negative rates (27%),strengthening the case for early surveillance imaging and/or proceeding with nodal radiation for patients with high-risk features regardless of a negative sentinel node biopsy. | Wang, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2026
