Abstract
Background The incidence of residual occult disease in nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) after a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with melanoma is relatively low. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that may be predictive of occult NSLN metastases after positive SLN biopsy. Methods Fifty-six consecutive melanoma patients with positive sentinel nodes who subsequently underwent complete lymph node dissection (CLND) were evaluated. Results Only the number of positive SLN predicted the status on NSLN by univariate ( P = 0.008) and multivariate ( P = 0.028) analyses. None of the other variables (characteristics of SLN metastases, number of draining nodal basins, age, sex, thickness, Clark level, ulceration, number of mitoses/mm 2, histological subtype, and location of the primary) significantly predicted CLND results. Conclusions Identifying patients with residual lymph node basin disease remains difficult. Thus, lymph node dissection should be performed in all patients after positive sentinel node biopsy.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
