Evaluation of sentinel lymph node status in spindle cell melanomas

Background: The propensity for spindle cell melanoma to metastasize to the lymph node is relatively low despite its relative thick depth. To date, there are no published reports on the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and desmoplastic malignant melano...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2001-03, Vol.44 (3), p.451-455
Main Authors: Thelmo, Marylou C., Sagebiel, Richard W., Treseler, Patrick A., Morita, Eugene T., Nguyen, Luyen Huu, Kashani-Sabet, Mohammed, Leong, Stanley P.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Databases, Factual
Dermatology
Female
Humans
Male
Medical Records
Medical sciences
Melanoma - pathology
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neoplasm Staging - methods
Retrospective Studies
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Skin Neoplasms - pathology
Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
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Summary:Background: The propensity for spindle cell melanoma to metastasize to the lymph node is relatively low despite its relative thick depth. To date, there are no published reports on the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM). Objective: Our purpose was to report our experience on the SLN status in spindle cell melanoma and DMM. Methods: We undertook a retrospective database and medical record review from Oct 21, 1993 to Sept 29, 1999. At the University of California at San Francisco Melanoma Center, patients with tumor thickness greater than 1 mm or less than 1 mm with high-risk features are managed with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, selective SLN dissection, and wide excision. Results: Of 29 patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM, 28 had negative SLNs and are free of disease except for one patient who experienced splenic, bony, and brain metastases. The mean follow-up in this population was 16.5 and 11 months, respectively. Conclusion: Our preliminary findings show that SLNs from patients diagnosed with spindle cell melanoma and DMM only rarely harbor micrometastasis despite their relative thickness. A larger number of cases from multicenter databases may further define the true biology of SLNs in this melanoma variant. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:451-5.)
ISSN:0190-9622
1097-6787
DOI:10.1067/mjd.2001.110881