BACKGROUND: The regional lymph nodal status is the most powerful independent predictor of survival for patients with clinical N0 primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the feasibility and morbidity of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging using a multidisciplinary team approach, in cooperation with other surgical departments, at a university hospital setting. METHODS: Twenty two patients with cutaneous melanoma and who were treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included in this study. They all received SLNB, which was done by the Departments of Dermatology and General Surgery. We evaluated the feasibility and side effects of SLNB. RESULTS: Pathologically-positive sentinel nodes were found in 7 of the 22 cases (31.8%) and all 7 patients were consequently upstaged. The whole process involved in SLNB was well tolerated by nearly all the patients, with only mild and transient complications being observed. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in a Korean setting, utilizing SLNB with a multi-disciplinary team approach is a technically feasible procedure that is able to detect occult nodal metastasis with low morbidity rates in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND: The regional lymph nodal status is the most powerful independent predictor of survival for patients with clinical N0 primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the feasibility and morbidity of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging using a multidisciplinary team approach, in cooperation with other surgical departments, at a university hospital setting. METHODS: Twenty two patients with cutaneous melanoma and who were treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included in this study. They all received SLNB, which was done by the Departments of Dermatology and General Surgery. We evaluated the feasibility and side effects of SLNB. RESULTS: Pathologically-positive sentinel nodes were found in 7 of the 22 cases (31.8%) and all 7 patients were consequently upstaged. The whole process involved in SLNB was well tolerated by nearly all the patients, with only mild and transient complications being observed. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in a Korean setting, utilizing SLNB with a multi-disciplinary team approach is a technically feasible procedure that is able to detect occult nodal metastasis with low morbidity rates in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Authors: Giuliano Mariani; Marco Gipponi; Luciano Moresco; Giuseppe Villa; Mirco Bartolomei; Giovanni Mazzarol; Maria Claudia Bagnara; Antonella Romanini; Ferdinando Cafiero; Giovanni Paganelli; H William Strauss Journal: J Nucl Med Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 10.057
Authors: D Reintgen; C W Cruse; K Wells; C Berman; N Fenske; F Glass; K Schroer; R Heller; M Ross; G Lyman Journal: Ann Surg Date: 1994-12 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: Irena Jankovic; Predrag Kovacevic; Milan Visnjic; Dimitrije Jankovic; Ivana Binic; Aleksandar Jankovic; Ivan Ilic Journal: Ann Dermatol Date: 2011-09-30 Impact factor: 1.444