title: The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy with a multidisciplinary cooperative team approach for the management of koreans with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ho Youn
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Byung Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Weon Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Do Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Hyang
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Ho Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Gul
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ghil Suk
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jae Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee