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Stanley P. L. Leong, MD; Ina Steinmetz, MD; Fahim A. Habib, MD; Alex McMillan, PhD; Jason Z. Gans; Robert E. Allen, Jr; Eugene T. Morita, MD; Mohamed El-Kadi, MD; Howard D. Epstein, MD; Mohammed Kashani-Sabet, MD; Richard W. Sagebiel, MD

Arch Surg. 1997;132(6):666-673.

Abstract
Objective
To determine the optimal approach of selective sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection in primary malignant melanoma.

Design
Consecutive patient study. Prior to selective SLN dissection and wide local excision of the primary melanoma biopsy site, technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid was injected intradermally around the primary melanoma or biopsy site to mark the SLN. Isosulfan blue (Lymphazurin, Hirsch Industries Inc, Richmond, Va) was injected at the primary biopsy site immediately before the surgical procedure.

Setting
Teaching hospital tertiary care referral center.

Main Outcome Measures
Successful identification of SLNs being defined as positive for microscopic metastatic melanoma by blue dye staining, radioisotope uptake, or both.

Results
Selective intraoperative mapping by gamma probe and visualization of blue dye–stained SLN(s) resulted in a 98% (160/163) successful identification rate.

Thirty patients (18.4%) had microscopic metastatic melanoma of the SLN(s), 22 of whom had subsequently completed lymphadenectomy. In 4 (18.2%) of these 22 patients, further microscopic metastatic disease was found in 1 of 8 nodes, 1 of 8 nodes, 1 of 28 nodes, and 1 of 9 nodes. No notable complications were encountered. Five recurrent cases from patients with SLNs without microscopic metastatic melanoma (3.8%) and 2 from patients with SLNs with microscopic metastatic melanoma (6%) were found during a median follow-up period of 463 days. A second primary melanoma developed in 2 patients; neither had no local recurrence.

Conclusions
Sequential combination of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative mapping is a reliable way to identify regional SLN. The frequency of microscopic metastatic melanoma of the SLN(s) is 18.4%. Gamma-probe–guided resection minimizes the extent of lymph node dissection. Further follow-up is needed to assess the outcome of this group of patients for regional and systemic recurrences.

Arch Surg. 1997;132:666-673

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery (Drs Leong, Steinmetz, Habib, Allen, and El-Kadi and Mr Gans), Nuclear Medicine (Dr Morita), Pathology (Drs Epstein and Sagebiel), and Dermatology (Drs Kashani-Sabet and Sagebiel), University of California/Mount Zion Medical Center, San Francisco, and the University of California at San Francisco Cancer Center, Biostatistics Core (Dr McMillan).

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