title: S-classification of sentinel lymph node biopsy predicts the results of complete regional lymph node dissection.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify melanoma patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) at increased risk for further metastases in this specific lymph node basin. A series of consecutive patients with primary malignant melanoma stage I and II were evaluated retrospectively. The results of SLN biopsy in 26 patients with positive SLNs were compared with those of complete regional lymph node dissection (RLND) using the recently published S-classification of SLNs. The results of S-classification of SLNs were correlated with the outcome of complete RLND. There was a significant correlation between the S stage of positive SLNs and the results of complete RLND (P=0.02). Only patients with SIII stage (n=4) SLNs were found to have further metastases in the residual lymph node basin. The present study indicates that patients with SI stage and SII stage SLNs rarely have further metastases in the specific lymph node basin.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Wilhelminenspital, Montleartstrasse 37, 1160 Vienna, Austria. astrid.fink@wienkav.at
authors: Astrid M
authors: AM
authors: Fink
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Weihsengruber
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Spangl
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Feichtinger
authors: Nikolaus
authors: N
authors: Lilgenau
authors: Klemens
authors: K
authors: Rappersberger
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Jurecka
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*