Premium
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with malignant melanoma: analysis of post‐operative complications
Author(s) -
Solari Nicola,
Bertoglio Sergio,
Boscaneanu Alexandru,
Minuto Michele,
Reina Simona,
Palombo Denise,
Bruzzi Paolo,
Cafiero Ferdinando
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.15358
Subject(s) - medicine , sentinel lymph node , melanoma , surgery , lymphocele , biopsy , incidence (geometry) , lymphadenectomy , lymph , retrospective cohort study , wound dehiscence , seroma , univariate analysis , lymph node , sentinel node , cancer , complication , radiology , multivariate analysis , breast cancer , pathology , physics , cancer research , optics
Background This study investigates the incidence of post‐operative complications and risk factors of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in melanoma patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single cancer institution on 408 consecutive SLNBs. Results Fifty‐five post‐operative complications occurred in 39 (9.5%) patients and included: wound infection in 24 (5.9%), seroma and lymphorrhea in 15 (3.7%), wound dehiscence in seven (1.7%), lymphocele in six (1.5%) and others in three (0.7%). Univariate analysis failed to identify possible risk factors (i.e. gender, age, lymph node region, number of excised lymph nodes, Breslow index, pT levels, comorbidities, length of surgery and hospital stay). Metastatic sentinel nodes occurred in four of 135 (3%) patients with thin melanoma (Breslow <1 mm) and in 68 of 262 (25.9%) patients with Breslow >1 mm. Conclusion For patients with thin melanoma in whom the incidence of lymph node metastasis is low, the reported post‐operative morbidity of almost 10% of SLNB highlights the need for careful patient selection.