Lower tumour burden and better overall survival in melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastases and negative preoperative ultrasound

Morton DL, Thompson JF, Cochran AJ, Mozzillo N, Elashoff R, Essner R, et al; Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial Group. Sentinel-node biopsy or nodal observation in melanoma. N Engl J Med 2006; 355: 1307-17.10.1056/NEJMoa060992Search in Google Scholar

Balch CM, Soong SJ, Gershenwald JE, Thompson JF, Reintgen DS, Cascinelli N, et al. Prognostic factors analysis of 17,600 melanoma patients: Validation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Melanoma Staging System. J Clin Oncol 2001; 19: 3622-34.10.1200/JCO.2001.19.16.3622Search in Google Scholar

Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd DR, et al. Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. J Clin Oncol 2009; 27: 6199-206.10.1200/JCO.2009.23.4799Search in Google Scholar

Strojan P. Role of radiotherapy in melanoma management. Radiol Oncol 2010; 44: 1-12.10.2478/v10019-010-0008-xSearch in Google Scholar

Morton DL, Wen DR, Wong JH, Economou JS, Cagle LA, Storm FK, et al. Technical details of intraoperative lymphatic mapping for early stage melanoma. Arch Surg 1992; 127: 392-9.10.1001/archsurg.1992.01420040034005Search in Google Scholar

Vakselj A, Bebar S. The role of sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar carcinoma and the experiences at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. Radiol Oncol 2007; 41: 167-73.10.2478/v10019-007-0027-4Search in Google Scholar

Rucigaj TP, Leskovec NK, Zunter VT. Lymphedema following cancer therapy in Slovenia: a frequently overlooked condition? Radiol Oncol 2010; 44: 244-8.10.2478/v10019-010-0047-3Search in Google Scholar

Morton RL, Howard K, Thompson JF. The cost-effectiveness of sentinel node biopsy in patients with intermediate thickness primary cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2009; 16: 929-40.10.1245/s10434-008-0164-zSearch in Google Scholar

Kunte C, Schuh T, Eberle JY, Baumert J, Konz B, Volkenandt M, et al. The use of high-resolution ultrasonography for preoperative detection of metastases in sentinel lymph nodes of patients with cutaneous melanoma. Dermatol Surg 2009; 35: 1757-65.10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01288.xSearch in Google Scholar

Brobeil A, Cruse CW, Messina JL, Glass LF, Haddad FF, Berman CG, et al. Cost analysis of sentinel lymph node biopsy as an alternative to elective lymph node dissection in patients with malignant melanoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 1999; 8: 435-45, viii.10.1016/S1055-3207(18)30195-9Search in Google Scholar

Schafer-Hesterberg G, Voit C. Ultrasound pre sentinel node dissection. Melanoma Res 2008; 18: 68-9.10.1097/CMR.0b013e3282f201a4Search in Google Scholar

Hocevar M, Bracko M, Pogacnik A, Vidergar-Kralj B, Besic N, Zgajnar J, et al. The role of preoperative ultrasonography in reducing the number of sentinel lymph node procedures in melanoma. Melanoma Res 2004; 14: 533-6.10.1097/00008390-200412000-00015Search in Google Scholar

Kahle B, Hoffend J, Wacker J, Hartschuh W. Preoperative ultrasonographic identification of the sentinel lymph node in patients with malignant melanoma. Cancer 2003; 97: 1947-54.10.1002/cncr.11261Search in Google Scholar

Rossi CR, Mocellin S, Scagnet B, Foletto M, Vecchiato A, Pilati P, et al. The role of preoperative ultrasound scan in detecting lymph node metastasis before sentinel node biopsy in melanoma patients. J Surg Oncol 2003; 83: 80-4.10.1002/jso.10248Search in Google Scholar

Sibon C, Chagnon S, Tchakerian A, Bafounta ML, Longvert C, Clerici T, et al. The contribution of high-resolution ultrasonography in preoperatively detecting sentinel-node metastases in melanoma patients. Melanoma Res 2007; 17: 233-7.10.1097/CMR.0b013e3282c3a65aSearch in Google Scholar

Testori A, Lazzaro G, Baldini F, Tosti G, Mosconi M, Lovati E, et al. The role of ultrasound of sentinel nodes in the pre- and post-operative evaluation of stage i melanoma patients. Melanoma Res 2005; 15: 191-8.10.1097/00008390-200506000-00008Search in Google Scholar

Leboulleux S, Girard E, Rose M, Travagli JP, Sabbah N, Caillou B, et al. Ultrasound criteria of malignancy for cervical lymph nodes in patients followed up for differentiated thyroid cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 92: 3590-4.10.1210/jc.2007-0444Search in Google Scholar

Vassallo P, Wernecke K, Roos N, Peters PE. Differentiation of benign from malignant superficial lymphadenopathy: the role of high-resolution US. Radiology 1992; 183: 215-20.10.1148/radiology.183.1.1549675Search in Google Scholar

Hocevar M, Bracko M, Pogacnik A, Vidergar-Kralj B, Besic N, Zgajnar J. Role of imprint cytology in the intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for malignant melanoma. Eur J Cancer 2003; 39: 2173-8.10.1016/S0959-8049(03)00453-2Search in Google Scholar

van Akkooi AC, Spatz A, Eggermont AM, Mihm M, Cook MG. Expert opinion in melanoma: the sentinel node; EORTC Melanoma Group recommendations on practical methodology of the measurement of the microanatomic location of metastases and metastatic tumour burden. Eur J Cancer 2009; 45: 2736-42.10.1016/j.ejca.2009.08.015Search in Google Scholar

Binder M, Kittler H, Steiner A, Dorffner R, Wolff K, Pehamberger H. Lymph node sonography versus palpation for detecting recurrent disease in patients with malignant melanoma. Eur J Cancer 1997; 33: 1805-8.10.1016/S0959-8049(97)00177-9Search in Google Scholar

Blum A, Schlagenhauff B, Stroebel W, Breuninger H, Rassner G, Garbe C. Ultrasound examination of regional lymph nodes significantly improves early detection of locoregional metastases during the follow-up of patients with cutaneous melanoma: results of a prospective study of 1288 patients. Cancer 2000; 88: 2534-9.10.1002/1097-0142(20000601)88:11<2534::AID-CNCR15>3.0.CO;2-2Search in Google Scholar

Prayer L, Winkelbauer H, Gritzmann N, Winkelbauer F, Helmer M, Pehamberger H. Sonography versus palpation in the detection of regional lymph-node metastases in patients with malignant melanoma. Eur J Cancer 1990; 26: 827-30.10.1016/0277-5379(90)90163-NSearch in Google Scholar

Schmid-Wendtner MH, Paerschke G, Baumert J, Plewig G, Volkenandt M. Value of ultrasonography compared with physical examination for the detection of locoregional metastases in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma Res 2003; 13: 183-8.10.1097/00008390-200304000-00012Search in Google Scholar

Voit C, Mayer T, Kron M, Schoengen A, Sterry W, Weber L, et al. Efficacy of ultrasound B-scan compared with physical examination in follow-up of melanoma patients. Cancer 2001; 91: 2409-16.10.1002/1097-0142(20010615)91:12<2409::AID-CNCR1275>3.0.CO;2-SSearch in Google Scholar

Voit C, Kron M, Schafer G, Schoengen A, Audring H, Lukowsky A, et al. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology prior to sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma patients. Ann Surg Oncol 2006; 13: 1682-9.10.1245/s10434-006-9046-4Search in Google Scholar

Starritt EC, Uren RF, Scolyer RA, Quinn MJ, Thompson JF. Ultrasound examination of sentinel nodes in the initial assessment of patients with primary cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2005; 12: 18-23.10.1007/s10434-004-1163-3Search in Google Scholar

Zgajnar J, Hocevar M, Podkrajsek M, Hertl K, Frkovic-Grazio S, Vidmar G, et al. Patients with preoperatively ultrasonically uninvolved axillary lymph nodes: a distinct subgroup of early breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2006; 97: 293-9.10.1007/s10549-005-9123-6Search in Google Scholar

Govindarajan A, Ghazarian DM, McCready DR, Leong WL. Histological features of melanoma sentinel lymph node metastases associated with status of the completion lymphadenectomy and rate of subsequent relapse. Ann Surg Oncol 2007; 14: 906-12.10.1245/s10434-006-9241-3Search in Google Scholar

Lee JH, Essner R, Torisu-Itakura H, Wanek L, Wang H, Morton DL. Factors predictive of tumor-positive nonsentinel lymph nodes after tumor-positive sentinel lymph node dissection for melanoma. J Clin Oncol 2004; 22: 3677-84.10.1200/JCO.2004.01.012Search in Google Scholar

Pearlman NW, McCarter MD, Frank M, Hurtubis C, Merkow RP, Franklin WA, et al. Size of sentinel node metastases predicts other nodal disease and survival in malignant melanoma. Am J Surg 2006; 192: 878-81.10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.08.062Search in Google Scholar

Reeves ME, Delgado R, Busam KJ, Brady MS, Coit DG. Prediction of non-sentinel lymph node status in melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2003; 10: 27-31.10.1245/ASO.2003.03.020Search in Google Scholar

Scolyer RA, Li LX, McCarthy SW, Shaw HM, Stretch JR, Sharma R, et al. Micromorphometric features of positive sentinel lymph nodes predict involvement of nonsentinel nodes in patients with melanoma. Am J Clin Pathol 2004; 122: 532-9.10.1309/TDWJTR15TDM1TG7QSearch in Google Scholar

Starz H, Siedlecki K, Balda BR. Sentinel lymphonodectomy and s-classification: a successful strategy for better prediction and improvement of outcome of melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2004; 11(3 Suppl): 162S-8S.10.1007/BF02523622Search in Google Scholar

Vuylsteke RJ, Borgstein PJ, van Leeuwen PA, Gietema HA, Molenkamp BG, Statius Muller MG, et al. Sentinel lymph node tumor load: an independent predictor of additional lymph node involvement and survival in melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2005; 12: 440-8.10.1245/ASO.2005.06.013Search in Google Scholar

van Akkooi AC, Nowecki ZI, Voit C, Schafer-Hesterberg G, Michej W, de Wilt JH, et al. Sentinel node tumor burden according to the Rotterdam criteria is the most important prognostic factor for survival in melanoma patients: a multicenter study in 388 patients with positive sentinel nodes. Ann Surg 2008; 248: 949-55.10.1097/SLA.0b013e31818fefe0Search in Google Scholar

Cochran AJ, Wen DR, Huang RR, Wang HJ, Elashoff R, Morton DL. Prediction of metastatic melanoma in nonsentinel nodes and clinical outcome based on the primary melanoma and the sentinel node. Mod Pathol 2004; 17: 747-55.10.1038/modpathol.3800117Search in Google Scholar

Gershenwald JE, Andtbacka RH, Prieto VG, Johnson MM, Diwan AH, Lee JE, et al. Microscopic tumor burden in sentinel lymph nodes predicts synchronous nonsentinel lymph node involvement in patients with melanoma. J Clin Oncol 2008; 26: 4296-303.10.1200/JCO.2007.15.4179Search in Google Scholar

Sabel MS, Griffith K, Sondak VK, Lowe L, Schwartz JL, Cimmino VM, et al. Predictors of nonsentinel lymph node positivity in patients with a positive sentinel node for melanoma. J Am Coll Surg 2005; 201: 37-47.10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2005.03.029Search in Google Scholar

Voit CA, van Akkooi AC, Schafer-Hesterberg G, Schoengen A, Schmitz PI, Sterry W, et al. Rotterdam criteria for sentinel node (sn) tumor burden and the accuracy of ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC): can US-guided FNAC replace SN staging in patients with melanoma? J Clin Oncol 2009; 27: 4994-5000.10.1200/JCO.2008.19.0033Search in Google Scholar

Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Ding S, Byrd DR, et al. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors among 2,313 patients with stage III melanoma: comparison of nodal micrometastases versus macrometastases. J Clin Oncol 2010; 28: 2452-9.10.1200/JCO.2009.27.1627Search in Google Scholar

Elias N, Tanabe KK, Sober AJ, Gadd MA, Mihm MC, Goodspeed B, et al. Is completion lymphadenectomy after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma always necessary? Arch Surg 2004; 139: 400-4.10.1001/archsurg.139.4.400Search in Google Scholar

Rossi CR, De Salvo GL, Bonandini E, Mocellin S, Foletto M, Pasquali S, et al. Factors predictive of nonsentinel lymph node involvement and clinical outcome in melanoma patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node. Ann Surg Oncol 2008; 15: 1202-10.10.1245/s10434-007-9734-8Search in Google Scholar

Thompson JF, Stretch JR, Uren RF, Ka VS, Scolyer RA. Sentinel node biopsy for melanoma: where have we been and where are we going? Ann Surg Oncol 2004; 11(3 Suppl): 147S-51S.10.1007/BF02523619Search in Google Scholar