Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: the experience of Brescia Civic Hospital

Tumori. 2000 Jul-Aug;86(4):349-50. doi: 10.1177/030089160008600427.

Abstract

The accuracy of the sentinel node (SN) technique in the evaluation of lymph node involvement in melanoma was evaluated in 71 consecutive patients with localized disease and Breslow index >1 mm. Lymphoscintigraphy identified at least one SN in 70 of the 71 patients (98.5%). The following day 69 patients underwent selective SN excision. The SN was identified by portable probe. One hundred and twenty-two lymph nodes were removed, 14 (11.4%) of which were metastatic in 9 patients (13%). No metastases were found in 40 patients with Breslow <2 mm. Eight of the 9 patients with positive SNs underwent lymphadenectomy of the whole basin and in two patients new metastatic nodes were found. At 4-26 months' follow-up 1 of the 60 patients with negative SN (scalp melanoma with Breslow 6.2 mm) developed bilateral cervical metastatic nodes. Two more patients with Breslow 3.7 and 5 mm, respectively, developed liver and lung metastases. The remaining 57 patients are still disease free. Among the 9 patients with tumor-positive SNs, 1 was lost to follow-up, 3 died and 5 are still alive. Our data confirm the clinical reliability of the SN technique in melanoma; we feel the technique should be considered a standard tool in the evaluation of melanoma patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Municipal
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / surgery*
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / methods*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery*