The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy with a multidisciplinary cooperative team approach for the management of koreans with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
The regional lymph nodal status is the most powerful independent predictor of survival for patients with clinical N0 primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.


OBJECTIVE
We wanted to evaluate the feasibility and morbidity of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging using a multidisciplinary team approach, in cooperation with other surgical departments, at a university hospital setting.


METHODS
Twenty two patients with cutaneous melanoma and who were treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital were included in this study. They all received SLNB, which was done by the Departments of Dermatology and General Surgery. We evaluated the feasibility and side effects of SLNB.


RESULTS
Pathologically-positive sentinel nodes were found in 7 of the 22 cases (31.8%) and all 7 patients were consequently upstaged. The whole process involved in SLNB was well tolerated by nearly all the patients, with only mild and transient complications being observed.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that in a Korean setting, utilizing SLNB with a multi-disciplinary team approach is a technically feasible procedure that is able to detect occult nodal metastasis with low morbidity rates in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Lee
Seok-Jong
SJ
Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Lim
Hyun Jung
HJ
Kim
Ho Youn
HY
Song
Chang Hyun
CH
Kim
Byung Soo
BS
Lee
Weon Ju
WJ
Kim
Do Won
DW
Jung
Jin Hyang
JH
Park
Ho Yong
HY
Kim
Sang Gul
SG
Yoon
Ghil Suk
GS
Lee
Jae Tae
JT