title: [Complications associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma. A retrospective study of 127 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for patients with cutaneous melanoma has become a routine procedure. Its purpose is to confirm the potential presence of micrometastases in the first lymph node basin. Therefore, staging of the melanoma can be determined. Somehow, only few studies assess the morbidity of this procedure. Our study was performed in order to list and analyze SLN biopsy-related complications in melanoma-affected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This mono-institutional, retrospective study enrolled patients, operated on from May 2001 until August 2008, who had undergone SLN biopsy that found no metastatic colonization. Patients with positive SLN biopsy underwent subsequent completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and, therefore, were not included in this study. Thus, CLND-related complications did not interfere with SLN biopsy-related ones. Median follow-up was 19 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty-seven patients, 58 men and 69 women were evaluated. Nine patients (7,1%) were diagnosed with one complication. We noticed seven early complications occurring during the first month (four seromas, one lymphocele, one infection with dehiscence of wound, one deep veinous thrombosis) and two late complications occurring beyond this period (one neuroma, one cicatricial bridle). Four (44%) among these complications arose in the groin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SLN biopsy is known as a simple and minimally invasive surgical technique. Somehow, some potentially severe complications may arise. These must be clearly explained to obtain the patient's informed consent prior to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, chirurgie de la main, chirurgie maxillofaciale, hôpital du Bocage, CHU de Dijon, France. alainduvernay@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duvernay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Henault
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Danino
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trost
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dalac
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aubriot-Lorton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zwetyenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult