title: [Complication of radical lymph node dissection following sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with melanoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the rate of complications of radical lymph node dissection following sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-centre retrospective study was performed between 2001 and 2009. All melanoma patients who first had a sentinel node biopsy followed by a radical lymph node dissection were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four patients had radical lymph node dissection after confirmation of metastasis in a sentinel node. The sites of the lymphadenectomy were axillary in 51% of patients, groin in 43%, neck in 5% and popliteal in 1%. A nodal metastasis was observed in 12 of 74 lymph node dissections. Median follow-up time was 41.5 months (3-135 months). At least one complication was seen in 47 patients (64%). Early complications were: postoperative infection (n=9; 12%), lymphocele (n=22; 30%), chronic seroma (n=9; 12%), postoperative haematoma (n=6; 8%), and wound separation (n=7; 9%). Late complications were: lymphoedema (n=30; 41%), joint complications (n=10; 14%), fibrous scar (n=11; 15%), chronic pain (n=6; 8%) and hyposensitivity (n=6; 8%). Two patients were rehospitalised for a complication. The complication rate was 53% for axillary location and 81% for inguinal location (P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radical lymph node dissection performed after positive sentinel node biopsy in melanoma patients is associated with significant morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Clinique dermatologique, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76000 Rouen, France. noemie.litrowski@gmail.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Litrowski
authors.forename: A-B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Duval Modeste
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coquerel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courville
authors.forename: P-Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Milliez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult