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Annals of Surgical Oncology
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 1/2005

01-01-2005 | Original Article

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

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

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2005

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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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Metadata
Title
Ultrasound Examination of Sentinel Nodes in the Initial Assessment of Patients With Primary Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors
Emma C. Starritt, MBBS, PhD
Roger F. Uren, MD
Richard A. Scolyer, MBBS
Michael J. Quinn, MBBS
John F. Thompson, MD
Publication date
01-01-2005
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 1/2005
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-004-1163-3

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