Evidence and interdisciplinary consensus-based German guidelines: surgical treatment and radiotherapy of melanoma

The primary treatment of a melanoma is surgical excision. An excisional biopsy is preferred, and safety margins of 1 cm for tumor thickness up to 2 mm and 2 cm for higher tumor thickness should be applied either at primary excision or in a two-step procedure. When dealing with facial, acral or anogenital melanomas, micrographic control of the surgical margins may be preferable to allow reduced safety margins and conservation of tissue. The sentinel lymph node biopsy should be performed in patients whose primary melanoma is thicker than 1.0 mm and this operation should be performed in centers where both the operative and nuclear medicine teams are experienced. In clinically identified lymph node metastases, radical lymph node dissection is considered standard therapy. If distant metastases involve just one internal organ and operative removal is feasible, then surgery should be seen as therapy of choice. Radiation therapy for the primary treatment of melanoma is indicated only in those cases in which surgery is impossible or not reasonable. In regional lymph nodes, radiation therapy is usually recommended when excision is not complete (R1 resection) or if the nodes are inoperable. In distant metastases, radiation therapy is particularly indicated in bone metastases, brain metastases and soft tissue metastases.     

Surgical standards in the primary care of melanoma patients

Excisional biopsy is recommended as the procedure of choice whenever there is suspicion of malignant melanoma. There are only few indications for incisional biopsies, which--in contrast to former opinions--do not worsen the prognosis. For nearly 70 years the debate about the optimal resection safety margin around the primary tumor was influenced by historical case reports and paradigms. Recently, controlled clinical studies provided new insights. Accumulating evidence over the past two decades showed that narrower surgical margins do not have any influence on the rate of advanced metastatic disease. Local recurrence is rare (approximately 0.1%) when primary tumors are thin and is seen more often (approximately 10%) in primary tumors of greater thickness (>4 mm). Analysis of the overall survival in randomized trials shows equal prognosis for malignant melanoma for narrow and wide resection margins. Due to these findings in-toto excisional biopsy for in-situ melanoma, a resection margin of 1 cm for primary tumors with a tumor thickness up to 2 mm and a resection margin of 2 cm for primary tumors greater than 2 mm appears sufficient. By this procedure primary closure of wounds will be possible in nearly all cases, morbidity and costs of surgical approaches will be reduced. For a long time it has been discussed whether prophylactic removal of lymph nodes ('elective lymph node dissection') is of benefit for melanoma patients. More recently 'selective' lymphadenectomy ('sentinel node biopsy', SNB) has been proposed to evaluate the status of the first draining lymph node ('sentinel node') of the regional basin. Several studies now demonstrate that the sentinel node evaluation for underlying metastatic disease reflects the status of the entire lymph node region and is therefore a useful prognostic factor superior to measurement of tumor thickness in primary melanoma. However, it is unclear whether sentinel node biopsy is of benefit for a better survival in affected patients.     

Inefficacy of F-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography scans for initial evaluation in early-stage cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of initial F-18 fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scanning for detection of occult lymph node and distant metastases in patients with early-stage cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: The authors conducted a prospective nonrandomized clinical trial. Inclusion criteria were patients with cutaneous melanoma tumors > 1.0 mm Breslow thickness, local disease recurrence, or solitary intransit metastases without regional lymph or distant metastases by standard clinical evaluation. All patients underwent whole-body FDG-PET scanning before surgical therapy. Abnormal PET findings were studied by targeted conventional imaging and/or biopsy. FDG-PET scans were interpreted in a blinded fashion. Regional lymph node basins were staged by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). PET scan findings in regional lymph nodes were compared with histology of SLNB specimens. Abnormal distant PET scan findings were studied with repeat conventional scan imaging at 3-6 months and were correlated with the first site(s) of clinical disease recurrence. Blinded PET scan findings were correlated with all information to determine sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: There were 144 assessable patients with a mean tumor depth of 2.8 mm. The median follow-up for these patients was 41.4 months. Blinded interpretations of FDG-PET scan images showed that 31 patients (21%) had signs of metastatic disease, 13 patients had probable regional lymph node metastases, and 18 patients had 23 sites of possible distant metastases. SLNB and/or follow-up demonstrated regional lymph node metastases in 43 of 184 lymph node basins in 40 patients (27.8%). Compared with all clinical information, FDG-PET scan sensitivity for detection of regional lymph node metastases was 0.21 (95% confidence [CI], 0.10-0.36) and specificity was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.93-0.99). No distant sites were confirmed to be true positive by targeted conventional imaging/biopsy at the time of presentation. Thirty-four patients (23.6%) presented with 54 foci of metastatic disease at initial disease recurrence. FDG-PET scan sensitivity for prediction of the first site(s) of clinical disease recurrence was 0.11 (95% CI, 0.04-0.23). Excluding patients with brain metastases, FDG-PET scan sensitivity for detection of occult Stage IV disease in patients was 0.04 (95% CI, 0.001-0.20) and specificity was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET scanning did not impact the care of patients with early-stage melanoma already staged by standard techniques. Routine FDG-PET scanning was not recommended for the initial staging evaluation in this population.     

Diagnostic biopsy of cutaneous melanoma,sentinel lymph node biopsy and indications for lymphadenectomy

The incidence of cutaneous melanoma appears to be increasing worldwide and this is attributed to solar radiation exposure. Early diagnosis is a challenging task. Any clinically suspected lesion must be assessed by complete diagnostic excision biopsy (margins 1-2 mm); however, there are other biopsy techniques that are less commonly used. Melanomas are characterized by Breslow thickness as thin (< 1 mm), intermediate (1-4 mm) and thick (> 4 mm). This thickness determines their biological behavior, therapy, prognosis and survival. If the biopsy is positive, a wide local excision (margins 1-2 cm) is finally performed. However, metastasis to regional lymph nodes is the most accurate prognostic determinant. Therefore, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for diagnosed melanoma plays a pivotal role in the management strategy. Complete lymph node clearance has undoubted advantages and is recommended in all cases of positive SLN biopsy. A PET-CT (positron emission tomography-computed tomography) scan is necessary for staging and follow-up after treatment. Novel targeted therapies and immunotherapies have shown improved outcomes in advanced cases.     

Desmoplastic and neurotropic melanoma

BACKGROUND: Desmoplastic and neurotropic melanoma (DNMM) occasionally metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and extranodal sites. The value of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has not been demonstrated clearly for patients with DNMM. The authors report on the utility of SLNB in the management of patients with DNMM. METHODS: The authors identified 33 patients with DNMM who were seen during a 5-year period in their institution who underwent lymphatic mapping and SLNB. Clinical and histopathologic data were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with DNMM underwent SLNB (mean Breslow depth, 4.0 mm; median, 2.8 mm). There were 25 male patients and 8 female patients with a median age of 61 years (range, 31-86 years). Fifty-two percent of tumors presented in the head and neck region, and 24% were associated with lentigo maligna. Four of 33 patients (12%) without clinical evidence of metastatic disease who underwent SLNB had at least 1 positive sentinel lymph node. No additional positive lymph nodes were found in subsequent therapeutic regional lymphadenectomy in any of these four patients. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB detected subclinical metastases of DNMM to regional lymph nodes. SLNB at the time of resection can provide useful information to guide early treatment and, coupled with lymphadenectomy in positive patients, may limit tumor spread and prevent recurrence at the draining lymph node basin.     

Chirurgische Therapie des malignen Melanoms

Background

The significant increases in the incidence of malignant melanoma and better overall survival have resulted in a tremendous rise in prevalence worldwide. For Germany the Robert Koch Institute estimated a projected 5-year prevalence of 37,000 women and 36,100 men for the year 2012 based on the German cancer registry data.

Aim

Surgical excision is the first choice therapy for primary malignant melanoma. Based on several prospective trial guidelines, lateral safety margins for excision ranging from 0.5 to 2 cm are recommended depending on tumor thickness. For anatomically difficult areas, such as the face and acral localizations the recommended safety margins can be reduced by application of micrographically controlled surgery and subsequent 3D histology.

Material and methods

This study was based on a selective search and review of the literature and recommendations of the new S3 guidelines on the management of melanoma.

Results

Metastatic spread in malignant melanoma is primarily lymphatic in more than 90?%. The risk of regional metastasis mainly depends on melanoma thickness. The indications for therapeutic lymph node dissection are defined in the current German S3 guidelines. The surgical technique of ileoinguinal, axillary and neck dissection is the current standard. Isolated satellite or in transit metastases can be surgically completely excised (R0). In cases of multiple in transit metastases of the lower extremities, hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion is an important treatment option.

Discussion

If complete surgical removal of distant metastases is possible, the survival time can be significantly increased. The current treatment of metastatic disease should always be discussed on an individual basis in an interdisciplinary tumor conference.     

Evidence and interdisciplinary consense-based German guidelines: diagnosis and surveillance of melanoma

Melanoma is a malignant tumor that arises from melanocytic cells and primarily involves the skin. The most important exogenous etiological factor is exposure to ultraviolet irradiation. Diagnosis of melanoma is based primarily on its clinical features, and the A-B-C-D rule is useful in identifying pigmented lesions, which are suspicious for melanoma (Asymmetry, Border irregular, Color inhomogeneous and Diameter more than 5 mm). Dermoscopy is very helpful in clarifying the differential diagnosis of pigmented lesions. About 90% of melanomas are diagnosed as primary tumors without any evidence for metastasis. The tumor-specific 10-year survival for all such tumors is about 75-85%. The most important prognostic factors for primary melanoma without metastases are vertical tumor thickness (Breslow depth) as measured on the histological specimen, presence of histopathologically recognized ulceration, invasion level (Clark level) and identification of micrometastases in the regional lymph nodes via sentinel lymph node biopsy. The current tumor node metastasis classification for the staging of primary melanoma is based on these factors. Melanomas can metastasize either by the lymphatic or by the hematogenous route. About two-thirds of metastases are originally confined to the drainage area of regional lymph nodes. A regional metastasis can appear as satellite metastases up to 2 cm from the primary tumor, as intransit metastases in the skin between the site of the primary tumor and the first lymph node and as regional lymph node metastases. In the stage of regional metastasis, the differentiation between micrometastasis and macrometastasis and the number of lymph nodes involved are crucial. As soon as distant metastasis develops, prognosis depends on the site of the metastasis and on the lactate dehydrogenase levels in the blood. The frequency and extent of follow-up examinations is based on the initial tumor parameters. In thin primary melanomas up to 1-mm tumor thickness, clinical examinations at 6-month intervals are sufficient and in thicker primary melanomas, at 3-month intervals. Lymph node sonography as well as determination of the tumor marker protein S100beta are recommended. Additionally, in the stage of regional metastasis, whole body imaging should be performed every 6 months; in the stage of distant metastasis, surveillance has to be scheduled individually.     

The atypical Spitz tumor of uncertain biologic potential

BACKGROUND:

Atypical Spitz tumors (AST) are rare spitzoid melanocytic proliferations with an uncertain malignant potential. ASTs have overlapping features of both Spitz nevi and spitzoid melanoma, and consequently generate controversy with diagnosis and management. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been proposed as a possible means to gain additional insight into the true biologic potential of these tumors; however, previous reports on the use of SLNB in ASTs have been limited by small numbers of patients and short durations of follow‐up.

METHODS:

The authors extracted data from their institution's prospective melanoma database, collected between 1994 and 2007, for all patients with ASTs of uncertain biologic potential. They reviewed the clinical features of these patients, including the sentinel lymph node status, and the histological features of the tumors.

RESULTS:

A total of 67 patients with ASTs were identified, with a median age of 23.7 years. The mean depth was 2.4 mm. Of these, 57 had a SLNB performed, with 27 (47%) having a positive sentinel lymph node. SLNB‐positive cases had a significantly lower mean age than SLNB‐negative cases (17.9 vs 28.7 years; P = .013); however, no other significant differences were observed. All 27 patients with a positive SLNB were alive and disease free with median follow‐up of 43.8 months. One patient who did not receive a SLNB developed recurrent disease with regional and distant metastases.

CONCLUSIONS:

ASTs do not appear to behave like conventional melanoma. There is a high incidence of microscopic lymph node deposits in SLNBs, but despite this finding, patients have a favorable prognosis. Our findings raise several questions regarding the malignant potential of ASTs, and the role of SLNB in their management. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Malignen Melanoms

Complete excision of primary melanoma tumors is the treatment of choice. Anecdotal case reports and dogmas characterized the discussion of adequate safety margins for almost 70 years. Later on, prospective randomized clinical trials introduced risk-adapted safety margins for melanoma. The decision for and against radical surgical approaches affects the morbidity of patients as well as cost efficacy significantly. Risk-adapted safety margins will reduce the number of hospitalization days in the future. Sentinel node biopsy for melanomas with a tumor thickness of at least 1.0 mm has recently been implemented into the guidelines of malignant melanoma. The sentinel node status is an excellent prognostic factor and might be of great relevance for adequate adjuvant therapies in high-risk melanoma patients in the future.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma: results of 10 years’ experience in two regional training hospitals in the Netherlands

Background and objective

The Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-I) demonstrated that the sentinel node (SN) status in cutaneous melanoma affects prognosis and that completion lymphadenectomy in SN-positive patients may improve survival. Our objective was to evaluate sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in two regional hospitals in the Netherlands.

Methods

Patients with localized melanoma were planned for wide excision and SLNB. Completion lymphadenectomy was recommended for positive SN status. Data were compared with the MSLT-I.

Results

A median of 2 (1–7) SNs were identified in 305 patients and complications occurred in 11%. Fifty-four patients (18%) demonstrated SN metastases and 45 underwent completion lymphadenectomy (20% additional metastases). Six patients with initially negative SN developed lymph node metastases (sensitivity 90%). Overall disease-free survival was 83% (SN-negative 91% vs. SN-positive 41%; p < 0.001) and melanoma-specific survival was 93% (SN-negative 97% vs. SN-positive 62%; p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed the SN status to be the most significant predictor for recurrence and melanoma-related death.

Conclusion

Our results of SLNB are comparable to data from high-volume centers participating in MSLT-I. From a patient perspective, the false-negative SN rate of 10% and complication rate of 11% should be weighed against being informed about prognosis and having a possible therapeutic benefit from completion lymphadenectomy.     

Previous wide local excision of primary melanoma is not a contraindication for sentinel lymph node biopsy of the trunk and extremity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with a previous wide local excision (WLE) was examined with case-control methodology. METHODS: A total of 168 consecutive cases of SLNB were performed in patients with truncal and extremity melanoma with tumor thickness of > or = 1 mm between October 1997 and June 2000 and were followed prospectively. For comparison, 65 of the 103 SLNB patients referred to us after their WLE (cases) were matched by tumor thickness to 65 patients who had SLNB with concurrent WLE (controls). Radiocolloid (technetium-99m sulfur colloid) was used in all cases; in addition, vital blue dye (patent blue) was used in the control group. The two groups were followed for a median of 15.4 months. RESULTS: SLNs were identified in all patients with an average of 2.1 (cases) and 2.0 (controls) SLNs excised per patient (P = 0.77). Twenty one (32.3%) of those having SLNB after previous WLE (cases) and 23 (35.4%) of those with concurrent WLE and SLNB (controls) were found to have metastatic disease in the SLN. The only false-negative in this group was detected in clinical follow-up in a patient whose truncal WLE was previously closed with a rotation flap (case). There was no significant difference in relapse-free survival (P = 0.209) and overall survival (P = 0.692) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB is feasible in patients with previous WLE for extremity and truncal melanoma. Similar rates of sentinel positivity are found when compared with those in whom their WLE was done concurrently.     

High-frequency 30-MHz sonography in preoperative assessment of tumor thickness of primary melanoma: usefulness in determination of surgical margin and indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy

Background

High-frequency sonographic imaging has been used for the preoperative evaluation of primary malignant melanoma. In the present study, to identify the usefulness of 30-MHz sonography for determination of the surgical margin and indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy, the correlation between sonometric and histometric tumor thickness was investigated.

Methods

A total of 74 primary melanomas, in patients seen at the dermatology clinic, Shinshu University Hospital, from 1998 to 2006, were evaluated using high-frequency sonographic equipment with two probes (15 MHz and 30 MHz), and tumor thickness was measured using electronic calipers before surgical treatment. All the primary lesions were surgically excised and Breslow’s tumor thickness was measured histologically.

Results

In 68 melanomas, excluding 2 lesions of melanoma in situ and 4 lesions with poor sonographic images, sonographic and histologic thickness showed good correlation (r = 0.887). Particularly, in 26 melanomas affecting the soles of the feet, sonographic and histologic thickness showed excellent correlation (r = 0.945). Regarding the T categorization, in which T1-T4 are divided at 1, 2, and 4 mm in thickness, the categories determined with sonometry corresponded very well to those determined with histometry. The correspondence was particularly excellent in thinner primary lesions with thickness around 1 mm. We excised almost all these primary melanomas with surgical margins based on the sonometric thickness. In 22 patients with sonometric thickness more than 1 mm, sentinel lymph node biopsy and/or radical lymphadenectomy was performed.

Conclusion

High-frequency sonography (30-MHz) is very useful in the preoperative prediction of tumor thickness, particularly in thinner primary lesions, which allows us to determine surgical margins and indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy.     

黑色素瘤前哨淋巴结活检的意义

黑色素瘤可发生于皮肤和黏膜,是目前发病率增长较快、易早期淋巴结转移的恶性肿瘤。淋巴结状态的评估对于黑色素瘤的分期和治疗具有重要意义,前哨淋巴结活检（sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）扮演着重要角色。目前,SLNB技术发展较快,但是SLNB阳性患者行淋巴结清扫（complete lymph node dissection,CLND）是否显著延长总生存期（overall survival,OS）仍然存在争议。全球多中心临床试验结果对前哨淋巴结阳性病例行CLND仍存争议,未得到黑色素瘤特异性生存率（melanoma specific survival,MSS）获益,但是可以确定SLNB能显著提高患者局部控制率,是现阶段循证医学证据下评估和分期的可靠方法。本文就黑色素瘤SLNB的研究进展和意义进行述评。      

Kutanes Melanom

While the incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) continues to rise steadily, the mortality has stabilized. Risk factors for the development of CM are UV light exposure and individual characteristics relating to pigmentation, and especially the number of melanocytic nevi. The most important prognostic factor in CM is the vertical thickness of the primary tumor in the histological specimen. Excision of the primary tumor with adequate safety margins is the treatment of choice. In the case of a tumor 1.0 mm or more thick biopsy of the sentinel node is recommended. Interferon-α is currently the only adjuvant therapy shown to have significant benefit in prospective randomized trials. When distant metastases are present treatment is palliative and is aimed primarily at achieving tumor remission by operative, radiological, and pharmacological means. Dacarbazine is considered the standard drug for systemic treatment. Follow-up depends on the initial tumor parameters and the current stage of the disease.     

Diagnostik und Therapie der Lymphknoten bei Tumoren von Vagina und Vulva

The lymphatic drainage of the vulva and the distal third of the vagina is directed to the groin lymph nodes, whereas the drainage in the proximal two-thirds of the vagina is to the pelvic lymph nodes. Because of the significant rate of complications, indications for treating the groin lymph nodes must be strict. In tumors exceeding an infiltration depth of 1 mm and more, a significant rate of metastases should be suspected. If the indication is there, a complete inguinofemoral groin lymph node dissection must be performed (for sentinel node biopsy, see the separate chapter). In strictly laterally located T1 tumors and tumor-free ipsilateral nodes, a contralateral lymphonodectomy is not necessary. In cases with advanced groin metastases, surgery or radiation therapy is indicated. If grossly enlarged metastatic lymph nodes are found, a combined debulking therapy followed by radiation should be considered. In cases with an increased risk of recurrence, additional radiation therapy is mandatory; alternatively, radiochemotherapy can be given.     

Accuracy of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy after previous wide local excision in patients with primary melanoma

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is the most important prognostic factor with respect to the survival of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma. However, lymphatic mapping and SLN biopsies (LM/SLNBs) performed in patients who have had a wide local excision (WLE) may not accurately reflect the pathologic status of the draining lymph node basins. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of LM/SLNB in patients who have had a previous WLE. METHODS: A single-institution database was examined to identify patients who had a WLE before LM/SLNB and patients who had a concomitant LM/SLNB. Primary clinicopathologic features (age, tumor thickness, and ulceration), SLN identification rate, SLN pathologic status, and the incidence and sites of recurrences were compared between patients with and without prior WLE. RESULTS: Of the 1395 patients identified, 104 had WLE before LM/SLNB. The mean preoperative WLE radial margin was 1.4 cm (median, 1.0 cm). LM/SLNB was successful in 103 of 104 (99%) patients. Age, tumor thickness, incidence of ulceration, and incidence of SLN positivity in the group with prior WLE were similar to those of the cohort of patients who had concomitant LM/SLNB and WLE (n = 1291). In 97 (93%) of the 104 prior-WLE patients, the surgical defects were closed by either primary closure or skin graft; 7 patients (7%) had rotational flaps. The median follow-up of these 104 patients was 51 months. Among the prior-WLE group, 19 patients (18%) had a positive SLNB; of these 19 patients, 4 (21%) had recurrences (3 distant failures and 1 local and distant failure). There were no lymph node recurrences-in a mapped or unmapped basin-in these 104 patients with a negative or positive SLNB. CONCLUSIONS: SLNs can be successfully identified and accurately reflect the status of the regional lymph node basin in carefully selected melanoma patients with a previous WLE. Prior WLE does not appear to adversely impact the ability to detect lymphatic metastases, although the utility of LM/SLNB in patients who have undergone extensive reconstruction of the primary excision site remains to be defined. Because more extensive surgery may be required to accomplish accurate lymph node staging in patients who have undergone prior WLE-including the possible removal of SLNs from additional lymph node basins and an additional surgical procedure-to minimize morbidity and cost, concomitant WLE and LM/SLNB is strongly preferred whenever possible.     

前哨淋巴结活检在中国皮肤和肢端恶性黑色素瘤患者诊治中的临床意义

背景与目的：恶性黑色素瘤近年来在中国发病率呈上升趋势。前哨淋巴结活检（sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）在欧美是皮肤恶性黑色素瘤外科诊治规范的重要环节,但在中国却未广泛开展。中国黑色素瘤具有多肢端亚型、浸润深度厚、溃疡率高和预后差等特点。但中国黑色素瘤外科治疗后的预后仍未明确。该研究旨在分析中国黑色素瘤患者的临床数据,评价SLNB的可行性及其对预后的影响。方法：回顾性分析2009—2017年在复旦大学附属肿瘤医院治疗的无临床淋巴转移和远处转移征象的黑色素瘤患者。每例患者在接受原发病灶扩大切除的同时,进行相应区域淋巴结的SLNB。前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymph node,SLN）的定位通过美兰染色和同位素示踪完成。所有患者术后均进行随访。结果：本研究共纳入452例黑色素瘤患者。平均Breslow浸润深度为3.29 mm,66.4%为肢端病灶,溃疡率达59.7%。SLN阳性率为26.8%,假阴性率为4%,淋巴结总转移率为30.8%。本组患者5年总生存率（overall survival,OS）和无病生存率（disease-free survival,DFS）分别为66.6%和55.8%。SLN状态是显著影响患者预后的独立危险因素,而Breslow浸润深度是预测SLN转移状态的独立危险因素。结论：对于无临床大体转移的中国黑色素瘤患者,应常规开展SLNB。SLN状态是影响复发和总体生存的重要因素,SLNB能提高淋巴结微转移患者的生存,提供准确的临床分期。     

Assessment of the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for primary cutaneous desmoplastic melanoma

BACKGROUND: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the treatment of desmoplastic melanoma (DM) remains undefined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of SLNB for DM. METHODS: In all, 1850 patients with cutaneous melanoma underwent wide local excision and SLNB. Patients with DM were identified and stratified as 'pure' DM or 'mixed' DM (i.e., DM associated with at least one other common histologic subtype). RESULTS: Of the 1850 patients, 65 (3.5%) had DM. Of these, 46 (70.8%) had pure DM and 19 (29.2%) had mixed DM. Patients with pure DM had a median tumor thickness of 3.5 mm and 6.5% were ulcerated. Compared with patients with pure DM, patients with either mixed DM or non-DM (n = 1785) had thinner primary tumors (median, 1.7 mm and 1.5 mm, respectively, each P < 0.001 vs. pure DM) that were more likely to be ulcerated (27.7% and 21.3%, respectively, each P < 0.05 vs. pure DM). Although the incidence of a positive SLN was similar in patients with mixed DM (15.8%) and non-DM (17.5%), patients with pure DM were less likely to have a positive SLN (2.2%) (each P < 0.01 vs. non-DM and mixed DM). At a median follow-up of 2.9 years, no patient with pure DM had recurred. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having thicker primary tumors, patients with pure DM have a lower incidence of positive SLNs compared with patients with non-DM. Whereas the treatment approach for patients with mixed DM should be similar to that of other melanoma patients, patients with pure DM are unlikely to have metastatic disease in regional lymph nodes and SLNB may not be warranted.     

Sentinel lymph node negative breast cancer larger than 30 mm: is axillary lymph node dissection constantly necessary?

Benefits provided by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) include improvement of pathologic examination and lower rate of sequels. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of this procedure in large tumors. From march 1999 and december 2003, 663 patients were operated for a breast cancer and underwent a SLNB. All patients with tumor larger than 30 mm and/or with involved SLNB underwent a complete axillary dissection (AD). One hundred and sixteen patients (17.5%) with a tumor larger than 30 mm underwent an AD. Identification rate of SLNB was 94% (109/116). Among the 43 cases with non metastatic SLNB, the AD was negative in 39 cases (90.7%). In four cases a palpable non sentinel lymph node discovered during the SLNB procedure was found to be involved. In one case the lymphoscintigraphy found only one lymph node with a very low fixation and an AD was performed because of low efficiency of the lymphoscintigraphy procedure. SLNB false negative rate was 1.4 % (1/72) among the 72 cases with lymph node involvement. AD was performed in 66 cases (60.5%) during the same operating time than the SLNB. AD showed a lymph node involvement in 30 cases (30/72, 41.7%): in 5 cases among 24 cases with microscopic disease (20.8%) and in 25 cases among 48 cases with macroscopic disease (52%). This series results suggest than AD could be avoided for negative SLNB tumors up to 50 mm at pathologic examination in patients with clinically-measured tumor smaller than 30 mm.