title: [Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: our experience over 8 years in a universitary hospital].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy, its use as a standard of care for patients with clinically node-negative cutaneous melanoma remains controversial. Our experience of sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma is presented and evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study was conducted on 69 patients with a primary cutaneous melanoma and with no clinical evidence of metastasis, who had sentinel lymph node biopsy from October-2005 to December-2013. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was identified using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and subsequent intraoperative detection with gamma probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sentinel lymph node biopsy identification rate was 98.5%. The sentinel lymph node biopsy was positive for metastases in 23 patients (33.8%). Postoperative complications after sentinel lymph node biopsy were observed in 4.4% compared to 38% of complications in patients who had complete lymphadenectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma offers useful information about the lymphatic dissemination of melanoma and allows an approximation to the regional staging, sparing the secondary effects of lymphadenectomy. More studies with larger number of patients and long term follow-up will be necessary to confirm the validity of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma patients, and especially of lymphadenectomy in patients with positive sentinel lymph node biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: lbanuelos@fhalcorcon.es.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bañuelos-Andrío
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Caravaca
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López-Estebaranz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rueda-Orgaz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinedo-Moraleda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: Cutaneous melanoma; Factores predictores; Ganglio centinela; Linfadenectomía; Lymphadenectomy; Melanoma cutáneo; Predictive factors.; Recurrences; Recurrencias; Sentinel lymph node