[Report on clinical observations obtained with sentinel lymph node surgery in malignant melanoma and during their follow-up at the Department of Dermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest].

OBJECTIVES

Report on clinical observations obtained with sentinel lymph node surgery for malignant melanoma and during follow-up at the Department of Dermatology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

In the period from November, 1997 to September, 2002, the above surgical intervention was made with 179 patients having primary tumour, one to two months after primary tumour removal. Staining with patent blue was combined with isotope technique. The primary melanoma and the pertaining sentinel lymph node(s) were removed. Histological evaluation of the sentinel lymph nodes was performed in serial sections. Immunohistochemical detection of S100, HMB-45, or Melan-A was used in the case of suspected micrometastases. Demonstration of positive sentinel lymph nodes was followed, preferably within 2-3 weeks, by regional block dissection. Interferon in low doses or BCG immune therapy were applied as adjuvant therapy. Bimonthly follow-up of the patients included physical examination and the use of imaging techniques as specified in the melanoma protocol.

RESULTS

Sentinel lymph node surgery was successful in 177/179 cases (98%). Positive sentinel lymph node was identified in 26/177 patients (14%). In node positive patients the thickness of the primary tumour was significantly greater than that of node negative ones (p<0.0000). Patients with micrometastases had significantly poorer symptom-free and overall survival by the Mantel-Cox test than those of the other group (p=0.0001 and p=0.0007, respectively). In the discriminance analysis of our data, the discriminant function established from tumour thickness yielded 81.7% and the positivity of sentinel lymph nodes 79.9% correct classification rates.

CONCLUSION

In good harmony with literature data, positive sentinel lymph node(s) were found in the case of thicker tumours. The involvement of sentinel lymph node indicated a significantly poorer prognosis.