title: Complete lymph node dissection for regional nodal metastasis.
abstract: The primary management of lymph nodes involved with metastatic melanoma is regional lymphadenectomy. Axillary or inguinal node complete lymph node dissection (CLND) is performed after an occult metastasis is found by sentinel lymph node biopsy, or after a clinically apparent regional lymph node metastasis. CLND completely removes all lymph-node-bearing tissue in a nodal basin. This procedure continues to be controversial. No randomized prospective studies have yet determined the survival advantage of CLND. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that all patients with stage III melanoma have a CLND.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8700 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. billd@mcw.edu
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Dzwierzynski
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011182:Postoperative Care; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery