The evaluation of the sentinel node successfully conducted in a case of malignant melanoma of the vagina.
BACKGROUND
The sentinel node biopsy has been established as a standard procedure in many types of cancer. To date, only one case was reported for successful detection of the sentinel node using a radiopharmaceutical-directed mapping technique in malignant melanoma of the vagina.


METHODS
An 81-year-old woman developed malignant melanoma arising from the lower third of the vagina. She underwent local resection of the tumor and exploration of the sentinel node using blue dye. The sentinel node was detected successfully in the groin, and was negative for metastasis. Intra-cavity irradiation was given as an adjuvant therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In view of relative ease and minimal trauma, sentinel node mapping could be a routine procedure in malignant melanoma arising from the vagina or vulva.
Nakagawa
Shunsuke
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. nakagawas-tky@umin.ac.jp
Koga
Kaori
K
Kugu
Koji
K
Tsutsumi
Osamu
O
Taketani
Yuji
Y
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*