title: Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanoma: Mapping the Parotid Gland.
abstract: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for primary cutaneous head and neck melanoma (CHNM) has been shown to be successful and is the current standard of care for intermediate-thickness melanoma. We evaluated our experience with CHNM associated with SLNB mapping to the region of the parotid gland.
  
  
  
  Retrospective review of a prospectively collected melanoma database identified 1014 CHNMs. Two-hundred twenty-three patients underwent SLNB, and 72 (32%) had mapping in the region of the parotid gland between May 1995 and June 2003.
  
  
  
  The mean number of SLNs per patient was 2.5. A sentinel lymph node (SLN) was successfully identified in 94% of patients, and in 12%, the SLN was positive for metastatic disease. Biopsy of intraparotid SLNs was performed in 51.4% and of periparotid SLNs in 26.4%, and a superficial parotidectomy was performed in 22.2%. Ten patients were found to have lymph nodes in the parotid region with metastatic disease (eight identified by SLNB), and two (20%) patients developed intraparotid lymph node recurrence in the setting of a negative SLNB. Same-basin recurrence in SLN-negative patients was 3.3% with a median follow-up of 26 months. Facial nerve dysfunction was identified in seven (10%) patients. Facial nerve function returned to preoperative status in all patients.
  
  
  
  SLNB for patients with primary CHNM mapping to the parotid gland can be performed with a high degree of accuracy and a low morbidity consisting of temporary facial nerve paresis.
authors.affiliation: Gastric and Mixed Tumors Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Antonio I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Picon
authors.affiliation: Gastric and Mixed Tumors Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Coit
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shaha
authors.affiliation: Gastric and Mixed Tumors Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Jay O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Bhuvanesh B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Klaus J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Busam
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021.
authors.forename: Jatin P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 285, New York, New York, 10021. krausd@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002610:Cheek; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004428:Ear Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D035421:Parotid Region; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000071036:Sentinel Lymph Node / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents