BACKGROUND: The propensity for spindle cell melanoma to metastasize to the lymph node is relatively low despite its relative thick depth. To date, there are no published reports on the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM). OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to report our experience on the SLN status in spindle cell melanoma and DMM. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective database and medical record review from Oct 21, 1993 to Sept 29, 1999. At the University of California at San Francisco Melanoma Center, patients with tumor thickness greater than 1 mm or less than 1 mm with high-risk features are managed with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, selective SLN dissection, and wide excision. RESULTS: Of 29 patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM, 28 had negative SLNs and are free of disease except for one patient who experienced splenic, bony, and brain metastases. The mean follow-up in this population was 16.5 and 11 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings show that SLNs from patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM only rarely harbor micrometastasis despite their relative thickness. A larger number of cases from multicenter databases may further define the true biology of SLNs in this melanoma variant.
BACKGROUND: The propensity for spindle cell melanoma to metastasize to the lymph node is relatively low despite its relative thick depth. To date, there are no published reports on the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM). OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to report our experience on the SLN status in spindle cell melanoma and DMM. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective database and medical record review from Oct 21, 1993 to Sept 29, 1999. At the University of California at San Francisco Melanoma Center, patients with tumor thickness greater than 1 mm or less than 1 mm with high-risk features are managed with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, selective SLN dissection, and wide excision. RESULTS: Of 29 patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM, 28 had negative SLNs and are free of disease except for one patient who experienced splenic, bony, and brain metastases. The mean follow-up in this population was 16.5 and 11 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings show that SLNs from patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM only rarely harbor micrometastasis despite their relative thickness. A larger number of cases from multicenter databases may further define the true biology of SLNs in this melanoma variant.
Authors: Dale Han; Gang Han; Monica T Duque; Steven Morrison; Stanley P Leong; Mohammed Kashani-Sabet; John Vetto; Richard White; Schlomo Schneebaum; Barbara Pockaj; Nicola Mozzillo; Vernon K Sondak; Jonathan S Zager Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2020-06-10 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Dale Han; Jonathan S Zager; Daohai Yu; Xiuhua Zhao; Brooke Walls; Suroosh S Marzban; Nikhil G Rao; Vernon K Sondak; Jane L Messina Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2013-02-07 Impact factor: 5.344
Authors: Yasufumi Goto; Takaaki Arigami; Rajmohan Murali; Richard A Scolyer; Atsushi Tanemura; Minoru Takata; Roderick R Turner; Linhda Nguyen; Tung Nguyen; Donald L Morton; Soldano Ferone; Dave S B Hoon Journal: Pigment Cell Melanoma Res Date: 2009-12-04 Impact factor: 4.693
Authors: Dale Han; Gang Han; Xiuhua Zhao; Nikhil G Rao; Jane L Messina; Suroosh S Marzban; Amod A Sarnaik; C Wayne Cruse; Vernon K Sondak; Jonathan S Zager Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-03-26 Impact factor: 3.240