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Ultrasound Examination of Sentinel Nodes in the Initial Assessment of Patients With Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

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Abstract

Background

The value of targeted high-resolution ultrasound (US) examination in detecting sentinel lymph node metastases in patients with newly diagnosed primary cutaneous melanomas has not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the threshold size of metastatic melanoma deposits in SLNs able to be detected by targeted US examination before initial melanoma surgery.

Methods

A total of 304 patients presenting with primary cutaneous melanomas had SLNs identified by lymphoscintigraphy and then examined in situ by the same physician with high-resolution US. Within 24 hours, the SLNs were removed for histopathologic assessment of sections stained conventionally and with immunohistochemical markers for S100 protein and HMB45 antigen.

Results

Metastatic disease was present in SLNs from 33 node fields in 31 patients. The US results in seven of these cases were suggestive of metastatic disease. Twenty-six node fields contained positive nodes not detected by US. Undetected deposits had diameters <4.5 mm.

Conclusions

These results suggest that a targeted US examination of SLNs can detect metastatic melanoma deposits down to approximately 4.5 mm in diameter. However, most metastatic melanoma deposits in SLNs are considerably smaller than this at the time of initial staging, and US therefore cannot be considered cost-effective in this setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Melanoma Unit, Sydney Cancer Centre and Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia

    Emma C. Starritt MBBS, PhD, Roger F. Uren MD, Richard A. Scolyer MBBS, Michael J. Quinn MBBS & John F. Thompson MD

  2. Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Ultrasound, RPAH Medical Centre, Newtown, New South Wales, 2042, Australia

    Roger F. Uren MD

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia

    Roger F. Uren MD

  4. Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia

    Richard A. Scolyer MBBS

  5. Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia

    John F. Thompson MD

  6. Sydney Melanoma Unit, Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Gloucester House, Camperdown, New South Wales, 2050, Australia

    John F. Thompson MD

Authors
  1. Emma C. Starritt MBBS, PhD
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  2. Roger F. Uren MD
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  3. Richard A. Scolyer MBBS
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  4. Michael J. Quinn MBBS
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  5. John F. Thompson MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John F. Thompson MD.

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Starritt, E.C., Uren, R.F., Scolyer, R.A. et al. Ultrasound Examination of Sentinel Nodes in the Initial Assessment of Patients With Primary Cutaneous Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 12, 18–23 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-004-1163-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-004-1163-3

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