Sentinel node biopsy in vulvar and vaginal melanoma: presentation of six cases and a literature review

Background Urogenital melanoma is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. Its management in the past involved radical vulvectomy and complete bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an accurate low-morbidity procedure when used in the context of cutaneous melanoma. However, prophylactic lymphadenectomy has not been shown to improve survival of melanoma patients. We wanted to determine the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with female urogenital melanoma as a staging procedure. Methods Six patients with vulvar or vaginal melanomas underwent preoperative lymphatic mapping with^99mTc-labeled sulfur colloid followed by sentinel lymphadenectomy. In addition, we reviewed the literature on the application of sentinel lymph node biopsy in urogenital tract melanomas. Results One or more sentinel nodes were identified in all six patients by lymphoscintigraphy. All patients underwent sentinel lymphadenectomy, except for one patient with a deep vaginal melanoma that drained to pelvic nodes. The five successful cases had unilateral drainage patterns. None of the sentinel lymph nodes excised had tumor invasion. Combined with five other patients from the published literature, the success rate of localizing sentinel lymph nodes in the patients with urogenital melanoma approaches 100%. Conclusions This experience, plus reports of a small number of patients from three similar studies, supports the impression that sentinel lymph node biopsy is feasible for vulvar and vaginal melanoma.     

Routine preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is not necessary prior to sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was performed to ascertain the added benefit of lymphoscintigraphy to a standard method of intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with invasive breast cancer were injected with 99mTc sulfur colloid prior to sentinel node biopsy; preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was then performed in half of the patient population. RESULTS: Sentinel node identification was possible in 45 of 50 patients (90%). All 14 patients (31%) with axillary nodal metastases had at least one histologically positive sentinel node (0% false negative rate). Lymphoscintigraphy revealed sentinel nodes in 17 of the 24 patients (70.8%) imaged. All 17 of these patients had one or more axillary sentinel nodes identified using intraoperative lymphatic mapping. In addition, 5 of 7 patients with a negative preoperative lymphoscintogram had an axillary sentinel lymph node(s) identified intraoperatively. None of the tumors showed drainage to the internal mammary lymph node chain by lymphoscintigraphy despite the fact that there were 5 patients with inner quadrant tumors. There was no significant advantage with respect to sentinel lymph node localization (91.7% versus 88.5%, P = not significant) or false negative rate (0%, both groups, P = not significant) in the group undergoing preoperative lymphoscintigraphy when compared with the patients in whom lymphoscintigraphy was not performed. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy adds little additional information to intraoperative lymphatic mapping, and its routine use is not justified.     

Sentinel lymph-node biopsy after previous wide local excision for melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: To document experience with sentinel lymph-node biopsy in patients who have already undergone a wide local excision for melanoma because in many centres previous wide excision has been a contraindication for sentinel lymph-node biopsy. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary care academic cancer centre. PATIENTS: One hundred patients who presented with cutaneous melanoma (depth >1 mm or Clark level IV) after having undergone wide local excision of the primary lesion that was not situated in the head or neck. The follow-up was 3 years. INTERVENTIONS: Sentinel lymph-node biopsy. Patients with truncal melanoma had preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to document the nodal basins at risk. Technetium-99m sulfur colloid (0.5-1 mCi in 0.5 mL) was injected intradermally around the scar, and the sentinel lymph node was excised with the aid of a hand-held gamma detector. OUTCOME MEASURES: Accuracy of the biopsy and false-negative rates in this setting. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients, 44 had truncal and 56 had extremity lesions. The average tumour depth was 3.47 mm and 3.07 mm respectively. Thirty-one patients had a sentinel lymph node positive for melanoma metastasis. Biopsies were positive for melanoma in 18 (41%) truncal lesions and 13 (23%) extremity lesions. There were 3 (9%) false-negative sentinel lymph-node biopsies as diagnosed by clinically evident nodal disease subsequently appearing in the nodal basin subjected to biopsy. Two occurred in patients after large rotation flap closures of truncal lesions. The third patient had a subungual melanoma of the great toe. No disease was found in the 2 nodes dissected. Two of the 3 false-negative biopsy results were obtained before serial sections and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the sentinel lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph-node biopsies can successfully identify clinically occult nodal metastases in patients who have had previous wide local excision of a melanoma, but the false-negative rate in patients with rotation flap closures should be taken into consideration.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结解剖学定位的临床研究

目的:探讨示踪剂注射部位对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)定位的影响。方法:对53例cN0期乳腺癌患者行核素示踪联合染料染色示踪法检测SLN,在原发肿瘤表面的皮下组织内或切除活组织检查残腔肿瘤周围两点注射99m锝(99mTc)标记的硫胶体,将卡纳琳或亚甲蓝分别注射于肿瘤对角线相应部位的皮下组织内(30例)或乳头乳晕下皮下组织内(23例)。SLN活组织检查后再行腋窝淋巴结清除术,标本行常规HE染色组织学检查。结果:53例患者均成功检测出SLN,核素示踪法与蓝染料法的成功率均为96.23%(51/53),联合检测的成功率100%(53/53),共检出SLN103枚,平均每例检出1.94枚,其中50例SLN位于胸大肌外侧缘的外侧组淋巴结(LevelⅠ),1例位于胸小肌后(LevelⅡ),1例同时位于LevelⅠ及LevelⅡ,1例同时位于LevelⅠ及胸骨旁。全部病例蓝染料与核素示踪标识的SLN均为同一枚(或同一组)淋巴结,两者完全吻合;且蓝染料注射于乳头乳晕或肿瘤对角线部位与核素注射于肿瘤周围所标识的SLN也完全一致。结论:SLN可能是乳房整个器官的SLN,而非乳房某个具体部位的SLN,与示踪剂的注射部位无关。     

Sentinel node biopsy for malignant melanoma. Technical details and clinical results on 390 patients

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to present personal experience with sentinel node biopsy for the treatment of malignant melanoma. Technical details influencing the efficacy of the procedure are presented and the clinical, therapeutic and prognostic advantages of this technique discussed. METHODS: A total of 390 consecutive patients with primary skin melanoma (T2-3,N0,M0) underwent sentinel node biopsy between March 1996 and May 2001. All patients underwent previous excisional biopsy of the primary lesion and clinical and radiographic examination to exclude lymphatic or systemic macroscopic spreading of the disease. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (99mTc nanocoll) was routinely performed in the last 315 patients. Intraoperative detection of the sentinel nodes was performed by perilesional, intradermical, injection of blue dye associated with a g probe (Neoprobe(R) 2000) in the last 315 patients. Sentinel nodes, serially sectioned, were all Haematoxylin-Eosin and immunohistochemically stained. All patients positive for micro-metastasis underwent radical lymphadenectomy. Comparative analysis between the incidence of metastasis in sentinel and non-sentinel nodes, according to the clinical stage of the disease, was done. RESULTS: The overall detection rate of sentinel nodes was 97.4%. Relevant differences were found according to the site of dissection and the use of a g probe. The g-probe makes the procedure more effective, less invasive and less expensive. Timing and accuracy of the preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is a basic step of the procedure. The overall incidence of positive sentinel nodes was 14.7% with differences correlated with thickness of primary lesion (0.75-1.5 mm: 5,8%; 1.5-3 mm:18%; 3-4 mm: 24.6%). Metastasis in other non-sentinel nodes was found only with primary tumour thickness exceeding 2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy is a procedure requiring a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, nuclear medicine and pathology). A specific learning phase (>30 patients) is recommended to obtain reliable results.     

Sentinel node localization in primary melanoma: preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe, and vital dye guidance

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy can be used to select patients with primary melanoma for therapeutic lymphadenectomy. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of 3 methods to locate the SN: preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative patent blue dye (PBD), and gamma-detecting probe (GDP). METHODS: We studied 133 patients with cutaneous melanoma and clinically negative lymph nodes. Within 24 hours before surgery, colloid labeled with technetium 99m was injected intradermally around the site of the primary melanoma. The patients were studied before their operations by using dynamic lymphoscintigraphy. A total of 208 SNs were found in 164 lymph node basins. In addition, all the patients had PBD injected immediately before the surgical procedure. When the blue-stained node was identified intraoperatively, its radioactivity level was measured with the GDP. In the absence of blue coloration, the GDP was used to trace the SN. RESULTS: Of 208 SNs, 168 (80.8%) were identified in the regional draining basin during intraoperative lymphatic mapping by using PBD. By using the GDP method, 202 (97.1%) of 208 were identified (GDP vs PBD; P < .01). By combining the 2 methods, 206 (99%) of 208 SNs were detected. Of the 133 patients, 29 (21.8%) had pathologically positive SNs, and were subsequently subjected to regional lymphadenectomy. In 26 (89.7%) of 29 patients, the SN was the only node with metastasis. Three cases (10.3%) of recurrence in patients with microscopic SN metastasis and 7 cases (6.7%) of recurrence in patients without SN metastasis were found during a median follow-up of 566 days. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative mapping with PBD and GDP offer simple and reliable methods of staging regional lymph nodes without subjecting every patient to a regional lymphadenectomy.     

Periareolar injection for localization of sentinel nodes in breast cancer patients

The goal of this study was to evaluate the periareolar injection of technetium 99m sulfur colloid to identify axillary sentinel nodes and compare the number of sentinel lymph nodes identified with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to intraoperative biopsy using a handheld gamma probe. A total of 104 consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer participated in this prospective study, with 81 patients receiving an intradermal periareolar injection and 23 patients receiving an intradermal peritumoral injection of filtered technetium 99m sulfur colloid. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was performed for sentinel node mapping and localization. In addition to selective sentinel node biopsy, axillary dissection was performed on all patients to determine false-negative rates. Routine histologic staining was performed on all identified nodes, along with immunohistochemical staining of sentinel nodes negative on initial routine staining. With an intradermal periareolar injection, the sentinel node identification rate was 91.4% (74/81), axillary metastatic rate 35.1% (26/74), sentinel node positive only 61.5% (16/26), and false negative 3.8% (1/26). With an intradermal peritumoral injection, the sentinel node identification rate was 91.3% (21/23), axillary metastatic rate 42.9% (9/21), sentinel node positive only 88.9% (8/9), and false negative 0% (0/9). A total of 241 sentinel nodes were identified with biplanar lymphoscintigraphy and 173 sentinel nodes were harvested during surgery, yielding a 28.2% increase in sentinel nodes identified with lymphoscintigraphy. This study demonstrates that intradermal periareolar injection of filtered technetium 99m sulfur colloid is successful in identifying axillary sentinel nodes with a low false-negative rate. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy aids in the identification and surgical planning of sentinel node biopsy and provides an objective measure of surgical performance.     

Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for Circumscribed Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymphadenectomy has been associated with fewer complications in evaluating regional lymph nodes from melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma. It may also be employed in other malignancies such as localized cutaneous lymphoma. This is the first report demonstrating sentinel lymphadenectomy may be useful on primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the efficacy of sentinel lymphadenectomy on primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. METHODS: Sentinel lymphadenectomy was performed on a patient with a localized CD30+ primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. After preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, sentinel lymph node was identified by the gamma probe, excised totally, and sent for histopathologic examination. RESULTS: Sentinel lymphadenectomy was negative for tumor metastasis to sentinel lymph node. Total excision was performed without systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy. This patient remained tumor-free 36 months after operation. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymphadenectomy on patients with circumscribed restricted primary cutaneous lymphoma may be beneficial for staging and prognostication of the disease.     

Feasibility of Sentinel Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Melanoma Using a Hybrid Radioactive and Fluorescent Tracer

Purpose

This study was designed to examine the feasibility of combining lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative sentinel node identification in patients with head and neck melanoma by using a hybrid protein colloid that is both radioactive and fluorescent.

Methods

Eleven patients scheduled for sentinel node biopsy in the head and neck region were studied. Approximately 5?h before surgery, the hybrid nanocolloid labeled with indocyanine green (ICG) and technetium-99m (^99mTc) was injected intradermally in four deposits around the scar of the primary melanoma excision. Subsequent lymphoscintigraphy and single photon emission computed tomography with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) were performed to identify the sentinel nodes preoperatively. In the operating room, patent blue dye was injected in 7 of the 11 patients. Intraoperatively, sentinel nodes were acoustically localized with a gamma ray detection probe and visualized by using patent blue dye and/or fluorescence-based tracing with a dedicated near-infrared light camera. A portable gamma camera was used before and after sentinel node excision to confirm excision of all sentinel nodes.

Results

A total of 27 sentinel nodes were preoperatively identified on the lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT images. All sentinel nodes could be localized intraoperatively. In the seven patients in whom blue dye was used, 43% of the sentinel nodes stained blue, whereas all were fluorescent. The portable gamma camera identified additional sentinel nodes in two patients. Ex vivo, all radioactive lymph nodes were fluorescent and vice versa, indicating the stability of the hybrid tracer.

Conclusions

ICG?C^99mTc-nanocolloid allows for preoperative sentinel node visualization and concomitant intraoperative radio- and fluorescence guidance to the same sentinel nodes in head and neck melanoma patients.     

The sentinel node biopsy in early gastric cancer: a preliminary study

Background and aims Sentinel node biopsy is currently used in surgery of malignant melanoma and breast cancer. The feasibility of sentinel node mapping in gastrointestinal cancers and its diagnostic sensitivity is unclear. It could be of particular value in the management of early gastric cancer in which radical D2 lymphadenectomy may be unnecessary. Materials and methods From January 2004 to June 2005, ten patients with preoperative diagnosis of early gastric cancer and no nodal involvement (cT1N0) were submitted to sentinel node biopsy using the dual mapping procedure with endoscopic blue dye and ^99mTc radio colloid injection. All the patients underwent standard radical gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy. The resected nodes were evaluated by routine (hematoxylin–eosin) histopathological examination; the sentinel (blue or hot) nodes, in addition, were evaluated with immunohistochemistry for cytokeratin. Results The detection rate of this procedure was 100%. The preliminary results and perspectives for feasibility of sentinel node biopsy and its accuracy in predicting the nodal status in early gastric cancer are discussed.     

Gamma-detecting probe used intraoperatively to locate the sentinel lymph node in patients with malignant melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes. DESIGN: Prospective open study. SETTING: University hospital, Spain. SUBJECTS: 40 patients with malignant melanoma (24 stage I/II, 16 stage III). INTERVENTION: The day before operation a lymphoscintigram with 99mTc-nanocolloid was taken and the first lymph node identified was considered to be the sentinel node. A hand-held gamma probe was used for intraoperative mapping. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Identification of the sentinel node. RESULTS: Sentinel nodes were identified in 39/40 patients (98%). In 24 patients with stage I/II disease, 34 sentinel nodes were found (6 invaded and 28 clear of melanoma). A total number of 161 regional lymph nodes were harvested, none of them invaded by melanoma. In 16 patients with stage III disease, 22 sentinel nodes were located (14 invaded and 8 clear of melanoma). A total of 89 regional lymph nodes were excised in patients with invaded sentinel nodes (44 of which were invaded and 45 clear of disease). 41 lymph nodes were excised from patients with clear sentinel nodes, and all were also clear of melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that this is a useful technique for the selection of patients with melanoma who may require lymphadenectomy.     

Sentinel lymph node mapping in the management of high risk malignant melanoma

In patients with malignant melanoma, the selective biopsy of the first draining lymph node, so-called the sentinel lymph node, allows to identify, with a low morbidity, the patients with nodal metastasis that require radical lymphadenectomy and adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. Herein, we report our initial experience in sentinel lymph node biopsy in 16 patients with malignant melanoma. The sentinel lymph node was localised using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and injection of dye blue. Intraoperatively, the dissection was guided with a gamma probe and by the recognition of the blue nodes. In the 16 cases the sentinel lymph node was localised. In 50% of the cases, multiple sentinel nodes were demonstrated at lymphoscintigraphy and found during surgery. A limited postoperative morbidity was observed in three cases. Three patients presented nodal metastasis and underwent further radical lymphadenectomy. We conclude that sentinel lymph node mapping is a feasible and reproductive procedure. The preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is essential to identify multiple sentinel nodes and guide surgical dissection. The impact of this approach on the overall survival of patients with high-risk melanoma has still to be demonstrated in studies with a long follow-up.     

中低位直肠癌侧方淋巴引流放射性核素显像的初步研究

目的 探讨放射性核素淋巴显像对中低位直肠癌侧方淋巴结转移的诊断价值。方法 选择1999年5月至2001年3月经病理证实的大肠癌患者32例，以^99m锝-硫胶体(^99mTc—SC)为显像剂，于术前1日行盆腔、下腹部放射性核素淋巴显像。32例中直肠癌27例，乙状结肠癌3例，结肠癌2例。对15例腹膜返折以下直肠癌行侧方淋巴结清扫的扩大根治术，将其显像结果与术后侧方淋巴结病理检查进行对照。结果 直肠旁淋巴结，闭孔淋巴结，髂血管、主动脉淋巴链的显像率分别为69％、91％、100％。行侧方淋巴结清扫的15例直肠癌，其核素显像对称10例，不对称5例。侧方淋巴结病理阳性率13％(2／15)。以图像不对称为显像阳性，结果 表明核素显像的灵敏度为100％，特异度为77％，符合率为80％，。结论 盆腔、下腹部核素显像是术前判断中低位直肠癌侧方淋巴结是否转移的较好方法，此法有助于制定合理的个体化手术方案。     

Sentinel node biopsy for malignant melanoma – technical details and clinical results in 259 patients

The purpose of this paper was to present our 4-year experience with sentinel node biopsy in the treatment of malignant melanoma. We will present technical details that influence the efficacy of the procedure and discuss the clinical, therapeutic and prognostic advantages of this technique. A total of 259 consecutive patients with primary skin melanoma (T2–3 N0 M0) underwent sentinel node biopsy between March 1996 and May 2000. All patients underwent previous excisional biopsy of the primary lesion and clinical and radiographic examination to exclude lymphatic or systemic macroscopic spread of the disease. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (^99mTc-nanocoll) was routinely performed in the last 184 patients. Intraoperative detection of the sentinel node was performed by perilesional, intradermal injection of blue dye associated with a gamma probe (Neoprobe 2000) in the last 141 patients. For each anatomical site of dissection (inguinal, axillary, head and neck), detection rates with or without gamma probe were compared, focusing on the main reasons for failure. Sentinel nodes, serially sectioned, were all hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemically stained. All patients positive for micrometastasis underwent radical lymphadenectomy. Comparative analysis was performed between the incidence of metastasis in sentinel and non-sentinel nodes, according to the clinical stage of the disease. The overall detection rate of sentinel nodes was 96%. Relevant differences were found according to the site of dissection and the use of a gamma probe. The gamma probe makes the procedure more effective, less invasive, and less expensive. Timing and accuracy of the preoperative lymphoscintigraphy are basic steps in the procedure. The overall incidence of positive sentinel node was 14.6% with differences correlated with thickness of primary lesion (0.75–1.5 mm: 7.3%; 1.5–3 mm: 14.9%; 3–4 mm: 30.5%). Metastasis in other non- sentinel nodes was found only with primary tumor thickness exceeding 2 mm. Correlation between sentinel node metastasis and prognosis as well as adjuvant therapy will be discussed. Sentinel node biopsy is a procedure requiring a multidisciplinary approach (surgery, nuclear medicine, and pathology). A specific learning phase (>30 patients) is recommended for reliable results. An improvement in survival rates by sentinel node biopsy has not yet been demonstrated, but this more accurate N-staging procedure offers clear advantages in terms of the patient’s quality of life, prognosis, and indication for adjuvant therapy. Received: 7 June 2000 / Accepted: 9 August 2000     

Sentinel node biopsy for melanoma in the head and neck region

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic drainage in the head and neck region is known to be particularly complex. This study explores the value of sentinel node biopsy for melanoma in the head and neck region. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with clinically localized cutaneous melanoma in the head and neck region were included. Sentinel node biopsy was performed with blue dye and a gamma probe after preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Average follow-up was 23 months (range, 1-48). RESULTS: In 27 of 30 patients, a sentinel node was identified (90%). Only 53% of sentinel nodes were both blue and radioactive. A sentinel node was tumor-positive in 8 patients. The sentinel node was false-negative in two cases. Sensitivity of the procedure was 80% (8 of 10). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy in the head and neck region is a technically demanding procedure. Although it may help determine whether a neck dissection is necessary in certain patients, further investigation is required before this technique can be recommended for the standard management of cutaneous head and neck melanoma.     

The learning curve for sentinel node biopsy in malignant melanoma.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has emerged as an accurate means of identifying nodal micrometastasis in cutaneous melanoma. In order to assess our learning curve, we compared our first 30 cases with our subsequent 30 cases. A total of 60 patients underwent SNB for cutaneous melanoma, using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy together with the intraoperative use of a Neoprobe and Patent Blue V dye. At least one sentinel node was identified in 93% of patients (90% in our first 30 cases; 97% in our subsequent 30 cases). Sentinel nodes contained tumour in 21% of cases. Of the sentinel nodes that contained tumour in the first 30 cases, 87% were identified by Neoprobe examination and 60% using blue dye. In the second 30 cases, the tumour-containing sentinel nodes were identified in all cases by both the Neoprobe and the blue dye. The sentinel node appeared to be the only involved node in 71% of patients. In the first 30 patients, one patient with a negative sentinel node developed nodal recurrence. These data confirm the feasibility of the sentinel-node technique in cutaneous melanoma. However, there is a learning curve, and the technique should be performed only by limited numbers of people with suitable training.     

Interval nodes: the forgotten sentinel nodes in patients with melanoma

BACKGROUND: Any sentinel lymph node that receives lymph drainage directly from a primary melanoma site, regardless of its location, may contain metastatic disease. This is true even if the sentinel node does not lie in a recognized node field. Interval (in-transit) nodes that lie along the course of a lymphatic vessel between a primary melanoma site and a recognized node field are sometimes seen during lymphatic mapping for sentinel node biopsy. If drainage to such interval nodes is ignored by the surgeon during sentinel node biopsy, metastatic melanoma will be missed in some patients. HYPOTHESIS: When lymph drains directly from a cutaneous melanoma site to an interval node, that sentinel node has the same chance of harboring micrometastatic disease as a sentinel node in a recognized node field. DESIGN: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with technetiumTc 99m antimony trisulfide colloid was performed to define lymphatic drainage patterns and, since 1992, to locate the sentinel lymph nodes for surgical biopsy or for permanent skin marking of their location with point tattoos. SETTING: Melanoma unit of a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 2045 patients with cutaneous melanoma were studied in 13 years. RESULTS: Interval nodes were found in 148 patients (7.2%). The incidence of interval nodes varied with the site of the primary melanoma. Interval nodes were more common with melanomas on the trunk than with those on the lower limbs. Micrometastatic disease was found in 14% of interval nodes that underwent biopsy as sentinel nodes. This incidence is similar to that found in sentinel nodes located in recognized node fields, confirming the potential clinical importance of interval nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Interval nodes should be removed surgically along with any additional sentinel nodes in standard node fields if the sentinel node biopsy procedure is to be complete. In some patients, an interval node will be the only lymph node that contains metastatic disease.     

Reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphic drainage patterns in sequential 99mTc human serum albumin and 99mTc sulfur colloid studies: implications for sentinel node identification in melanoma

BACKGROUND: Selective lymphadenectomy, based on prior lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification and excision, is now the standard management for intermediate-thickness melanomas in many cancer centers worldwide. At our center 99m-labeled technetium human serum albumin (HSA) scans are performed before the day of surgery in some patients with truncal lesions to detect multiple sites of lymphatic drainage. 99mTc sulfur colloid (SC) is then injected before the operation to delineate the sentinel node(s) for gamma-probe-guided excision. Our purpose was to retrospectively evaluate whether comparable diagnostic information resulted from lymphoscintigraphy performed with these 2 different agents. METHODS: All patients with melanoma who had dual sequential 99mTc HSA and 99mTc SC studies between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 1997, were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent paired HSA and SC imaging. Thirty-two patients had concordant scan findings. In all 6 discordant studies, 2 separate drainage areas were defined by HSA, but only 1 drainage area was defined by SC. CONCLUSIONS: In 15.8% of dual studies (6/38 studies), discordant imaging results were obtained between HSA and SC. SC studies alone may result in nonvisualization of at-risk draining lymph node beds and hence failure to identify and excise all sentinel nodes. This could result in inaccurate staging, inappropriate therapy, and altered prognosis. A reduction in SC dose from 3 to 1 mCi was probably the most significant causal factor leading to these discrepancies, which suggests that the 3-mCi dose is preferable.     

Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic sentinel node biopsy for staging penile cancer: results with pathological correlation

PURPOSE: We assessed the sensitivity of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic sentinel node biopsy for staging the inguinal region of patients with penile cancer and no palpable inguinal adenopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 31 patients with invasive penile cancer and nonpalpable (29) or nonsuspicious (2) inguinal lymph nodes were reviewed. Preoperatively lymphoscintigraphy plus dynamic sentinel node biopsy with (99m)technetium labeled sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye was performed in 21 patients and dynamic sentinel node biopsy alone with blue dye only was done in 10. All patients underwent superficial lymph node dissection regardless of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy or dynamic sentinel node biopsy findings to establish pathological nodal status. RESULTS: Six of 32 groins that showed drainage on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy had inguinal node metastasis, as did 1 of 10 that was drainage negative. The sensitivity of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy drainage for cancer detection was 86%. Using dynamic sentinel node biopsy with blue dye plus radiotracer 5 sentinel lymph nodes were positive for cancer, although 2 false-negative results were obtained. Thus, the sensitivity of dynamic sentinel node biopsy per groin for cancer detection was 71%. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and dynamic sentinel node biopsy as currently performed remain insufficient for detecting occult inguinal disease. Superficial lymph node dissection remains the gold standard for detecting inguinal microscopic metastasis in select patients.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Melanoma: How Many Radioactive Nodes Should be Removed?

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a standard method of staging patients with cutaneous melanoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy usually is performed by intradermal injection of a vital blue dye (isosulfan blue) plus radioactive colloid (technetium sulfur colloid) around the site of the tumor. Intraoperative gamma probe detection has been shown to improve the rate of SLN identification compared to the use of blue dye alone. However, multiple sentinel nodes often are detected using the gamma probe. It is not clear whether these additional lymph nodes represent true sentinel nodes, or second-echelon lymph nodes that have received radiocolloid particles that have passed through the true sentinel node. This analysis was performed to determine the frequency with which these less radioactive lymph nodes contain metastatic disease when the most radioactive, or hottest, node does not.Materials and Methods: In the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial, 1184 patients with cutaneous melanoma of Breslow thickness 1.0 mm or more had sentinel lymph nodes identified. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed by injection of technetium sulfur colloid plus isosulfan blue dye in 99% of cases. Intraoperative determination of the degree of radioactivity of sentinel nodes (ex vivo) was measured, as well as the degree of blue dye staining.Results:Sentinel nodes were identified in 1373 nodal basins in 1184 patients. A total of 288 of 1184 patients (24.3%) were found to have sentinel node metastases detected by histology or immunohistochemistry. Nodal metastases were detected in 306 nodal basins in these 288 patients. There were 175 nodal basins from 170 patients in which at least one positive sentinel node was found and more than one sentinel node was harvested. Blue dye staining was found in 86.3% of the histologically positive sentinel nodes and 66.4% of the negative sentinel nodes. In 40 of 306 positive nodal basins (13.1%), the most radioactive sentinel node was negative for tumor when another, less radioactive, sentinel node was positive for tumor. In 20 of 40 cases inding a positive sentinel node other than the hottest node.Conclusions: If only the most radioactive sentinel node in each basin had been removed, 13.1% of the nodal basins with positive sentinel nodes would have been missed. It is recommended that all blue lymph nodes and all nodes that measure 10% or higher of the ex vivo radioactive count of the hottest sentinel node should be harvested for optimal detection of nodal metastases.Preliminary findings presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Orlando, Florida, March 4–7, 1999.