title: Eight Years' Experience of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma Using Lymphoscintigraphy and Gamma Probe Detection After Radiocolloid Mapping.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isosulfan blue dye peripheral injection is used in preoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification alone or, to increase sensitivity, in conjunction with radiocolloid mapping. However, isosulfan blue dye has certain drawbacks and limitations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses the authors' experience of SLN biopsy using only radiocolloid tracer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2008, 218 patients underwent SLN biopsy with radiocolloid mapping, preoperative localization by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative confirmation by gamma probe in primary malignant cutaneous melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Breslow index was 2.1 mm. The SLN biopsy success rate was above 98% at all sites and 87% in head and neck locations. The 5-year overall survival rate was 90% and that of 5-year disease-free survival was 80%. False-negative rate, with a mean follow-up time of 41 months, was 5.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be successfully performed in patients with melanoma using only radiocolloid tracer without blue dye staining. In circumstances where blue dye cannot be used such as head and neck tumors, allergic reactions and pregnancy, radiocolloid tracer mapping alone is not a loss of chance for patients with melanoma.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, NHE-CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; †UMR Inserm/UdA, U1107, Neuro-Dol, Trigeminal Pain and Migraine, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; ‡Department of Biostatistics, DRCI-CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; §Department of Dermatology, NHE-CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pham Dang
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cassier
authors.forename: Aurélien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulliez
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansard
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DʼIncan
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barthélémy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C025484:iso-sulfan blue