title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy in early melanoma-comparison of two techniques for sentinel removal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an established technique for melanoma staging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There are no studies available comparing different techniques for the removal of sentinel lymph nodes related to safety and postsurgical complication rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective single-center trial. We analyzed the postsurgical complications in 201 consecutive melanoma patients with ligature of lymphatic vessels by sutures (group A) and in 91 consecutive patients with occlusion of lymphatic vessels by bipolar tweezers (group B). We paid particular attention to complications related to disturbed lymphatic function, such as lymph edema, lymphatic fistula, and seroma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complication rate was 5.5 % (group A) and 9.6 % (group B) which is in the range of other published trials (p = 0.89). There was no increase of complications related to lymphatic vessels in group B, although the rate of patients with more than two sentinel lymph nodes removed was 5‑times higher than in group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removal of sentinel lymph nodes with the use of bipolar tweezers does not increase the risk of postsurgical complications, and in particular it is not associated with a higher rate of complications related to lymphatic vessel dysfunction.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Friedrichstrasse 41, 01067, Dresden, Germany. wollina-uw@khdf.de.
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Wollina
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Friedrichstrasse 41, 01067, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Dana
authors: D
authors: Langner
authors: Institute of Pathology "Georg Schmorl", Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Schönlebe
authors: Clinic for Nuclear Medicine Fuchs & Tanner, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Tanner
authors: Clinic for Nuclear Medicine Fuchs & Tanner, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Fuchs
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Medicine, Emergency Medicine & Pain Management, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques
keywords: Lymph node excision; Lymphatic vessels; Malignant melanoma; Postsurgical complications; Sentinel lymph node biopsy