title: The use of selective lymphadenectomy in malignant blue naevus of the scalp.
abstract: Malignant blue naevus (MBN) is a rare cutaneous tumour with a close biological resemblance to malignant melanoma. MBN spreads to regional lymph nodes, creating a dilemma in managing patients with clinically negative nodal basins. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has evolved as a powerful staging tool by identifying occult metastatic nodal disease in patients with cutaneous malignancies. Here, we report a patient with MBN of the occipital scalp who underwent wide local excision together with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative radiolymphoscintigraphy and vital dye injection to identify all draining SLNs. No occult nodal disease was identified. This report adds to the growing body of literature supporting the role of SLN biopsy in staging individuals with cutaneous malignancies, including MBN.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice of Plastic Surgery, Joliet, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Shirbacheh
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mihm
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Stadelmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D018329:Nevus, Blue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012535:Scalp; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*