title: The importance of mitosis as a factor for predicting sentinel lymph node biopsy for thin melanoma.
abstract: 23-year-old female patient, with superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) on the back, Breslow 0.35 mm, Clark II, without ulceration and with 2 mitosis/mm². Patient was submitted to margin enlargement and sentinel biopsy of 2 lymph nodes (left armpit). Histopathology revealed micrometastasis in the subcapsular sinus of both. Following the recommendation of the 2009 American Joint Committee on Cancer Melanoma Staging (AJCC), the patient underwent complete axillary lymphadenectomy. No other lymph nodes were metastatic. The clinical application of dermoscopy has enabled more accurate diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, probably contributing to a greater proportion of thin melanomas at diagnosis. The mitotic rate was included as an important prognostic factor for thin melanomas by the AJCC, suggesting biopsy for these patients.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Cirurgiao Oncologico do Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brasil.
authors: Renato Santos de
authors: RS
authors: Oliveira Filho
authors: Mayra Calil
authors: MC
authors: Jorge
authors: Daniel Arcuschin de
authors: DA
authors: Oliveira
authors: Renato Leão de
authors: RL
authors: Oliveira
authors: Maria do Carmo Assunção
authors: Mdo C
authors: Queiroz
authors: Fábio Xerfan
authors: FX
authors: Nahas
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008938:Mitosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult