title: Metastasis to the popliteal lymph nodes in lower extremity melanoma and their management.
abstract: Melanomas located anywhere below the knee can drain to the popliteal fossa. Sentinel nodes in the popliteal fossa are found in 1-9.6% of cases. The positivity rate in these nodes is 12.5-30%, which is comparable to rates in conventional nodal basins. Formal dissection of the popliteal fossa for a positive sentinel node is indicated. Inguinal dissection based only on the presence of involved popliteal lymph nodes is not warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, King Hussein Cancer Center, Queen Rania Al Abdullah Street, PO Box 1269, Al-Jubeiha, Amman 11941, Jordan. bmorcos@doctor.com
authors.forename: Basem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morcos
authors.forename: Firas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Ahmad
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary*