title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy in malignant melanoma: a series of 100 consecutive patients.
abstract: A consecutive cohort of 100 patients who had undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was analysed retrospectively. Three areas were studied: success in finding the sentinel node(s); complications of the procedure; and extra costs incurred by SLNB. The sentinel node(s) were successfully identified in 98% of the lymph node basins biopsied. The overall complication rate was 33%. The additional cost of the procedure was estimated at 1420 pounds sterling per patient. SLNB can reliably identify the sentinel node. However there is a significant complication rate of the technique and considerable additional costs. SLNB requires further critical evaluation before it can be accepted as a standard treatment for patients with malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hettiaratchy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology