Residual nodal disease after excisional biopsy of a palpable, positive node in melanoma.
The medical records of 365 patients with the diagnosis of malignant melanoma who underwent axillary (n = 210) or groin (n = 155) dissection at a cancer referral center were reviewed. Sixty-one patients were referred after excisional biopsy of a palpable, histologically positive node. After node dissection, 75% of these patients were found to have additional, microscopically involved nodes, which confirms the advisability of node dissection after biopsy of a positive regional node.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263.
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Karakousis
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Rizos
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Driscoll
D001365:Axilla; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010173:Palpation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate