Morbidity after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the short-term and long-term morbidity was assesed after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with or without completion axillary lymph node dissection (SLNB/ALND) in patients with cutaneous melanoma.


METHODS
Between 1995 and 2003, 119 axillary SLNBs were performed for cutaneous melanoma. Fifty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria and entered the study.


RESULTS
Forty-four patients underwent SLNB alone and 14 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection after positive SLNB. Complications after SLNB alone: post-operative bleeding (n=2), seroma (n=1) and slight lymphedema 11%. Complications after SLNB/ALND: wound infections (n=2), seroma (n=5) and slight lymphedema 7%. There were differences between the two groups in short-term complications (p<.001) and functional limitations of the shoulder (p=.011).


CONCLUSIONS
Axillary SLNB alone had a low complication rate. However, SLNB followed by completion ALND was associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term complications.
Department of Surgical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen and Groningen University, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
M
M
de Vries
W G
WG
Vonkeman
R J
RJ
van Ginkel
H J
HJ
Hoekstra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors