Eur J Surg Oncol 2017 Aug 25;43(8):1517-1527. Epub 2017 May 25.

Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Surgery, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Division of Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address:

Imaging plays a critical role in the current multi-disciplinary management of patients with melanoma. It is used for primary disease staging, surgical planning, and surveillance in high-risk patients, and for monitoring the effects of systemic or loco-regional therapies. Several different imaging modalities have been utilised in the past. Read More

Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) 2017 Mar-Apr;6(2):143-152

Department of Ophthalmology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Eyelid malignancies represent between 5% and 10% of all skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common, followed by squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The gold standard treatment for periocular epithelial malignancies is surgical excision. Read More

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2017 Jul 7;44(7):1176-1184. Epub 2017 Feb 7.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University College Hospitals London, London, UK.

Purpose: Currently, most centres use 2-D planar lymphoscintigraphy when performing dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy in penile cancer patients with clinically impalpable inguinal nodes. This study aimed to investigate the role of SPECT/CT following 2-D planar lymphoscintigraphy (dynamic and static) in the detection and localization of sentinel lymph nodes in the groin.

Methods: A qualitative (visual) review was performed on planar followed by SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy in 115 consecutive patients (age 28-86 years) who underwent injection of (99m)Tc-nanocolloid followed by immediate acquisition of dynamic (20 min) and early static scans (5 min) initially and further delayed static (5 min) images at 120 min followed by SPECT/CT imaging. Read More

JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2017 May;19(3):232-238

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Importance: The incidence of melanoma is increasing, with 76 380 new cases of invasive melanoma and 68 480 new cases of melanoma in situ expected in 2016.

Objective: To review the contemporary management of early-stage melanoma.

Evidence Review: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases from January 1, 2011, to May 1, 2016, yielding 966 articles. Read More

Bull Cancer 2017 Jan 15;104(1):101-108. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

Institut de cancérologie Lucien-Neuwirth, département de radiothérapie, 108 bis, avenue Albert-Raimond, BP 60008, 42271 Saint-Priest en Jarez, France; Laboratoire de radiobiologie cellulaire et moléculaire de Lyon Sud, CNRS UMR 5822, 165, chemin du Grand-Revoyet, BP 12, 69921 Oullins cedex, France. Electronic address:

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare neuro-endocrine tumor of skin with a poor prognosis. Data available in literature are scarce. Current treatment for locoregional disease is based on combined treatment by surgery and radiotherapy. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2017 Jan 22;34(1):25-32. Epub 2016 Nov 22.

Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Spitz nevi are benign melanocytic neoplasms characterized by epithelioid or spindle melanocytes or both. In some rare cases their presentation overlaps with the clinical and histopathologic features of malignant melanoma, so a differential diagnosis can be difficult to make. Intermediate forms between Spitz nevi and malignant melanoma, with unpredictable behavior, have been called atypical Spitz tumors. Read More

J Exp Ther Oncol 2016 Nov;11(4):275-284

Keshlata Cancer Institute, Bareilly, 243001, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: Surgical resection has been the principle treatment approach for early lesions as well as advanced stage carcinomas of upper aero digestive tract. Neck dissection is the primary treatment given to nodal metastasis of oral carcinomas. Choice of irradiation and chemotherapy post surgery relies heavily on the histopathological assessment of surgical margins of resected tumor, dissected lymph nodes and accessory tissues. Read More

J Laryngol Otol 2016 May;130(S2):S133-S141

Northern Centre for Cancer Care and Newcastle University, Freeman Hospital,Newcastle upon Tyne,UK.

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the United Kingdom. This paper provides consensus recommendations on the management of melanomas arising in the skin and mucosa of the head and neck region on the basis of current evidence. Recommendations • At-risk individuals should be warned about the correlation between ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and skin cancer, and should be given advice on UVR protection. Read More

EJNMMI Res 2016 Dec 5;6(1):73. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.

Background: On April 1, 2015, Odense University Hospital (OUH) began a new diagnostic strategy, wherein all malignant melanoma (MM) patients in the Region of Southern Denmark with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) underwent FDG-PET/CT preoperatively prior to lymph node dissection (LND). The purpose of this study is to determine FDG-PET/CT's efficacy in finding distant metastasis in the first year after the implementation of this new strategy, and to what extent these findings influence subsequent diagnostic testing and treatment in this patient group. We conducted a retrospective multicenter cohort study which included all patients with MM from all hospitals in the Region of Southern Denmark from April 1, 2015 to April 1, 2016 found to be SLNB-positive who subsequently underwent FDG-PET/CT. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2016 Nov 24;67:164-173. Epub 2016 Sep 24.

Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is essential for adequate melanoma staging. Most melanoma guidelines advocate to perform wide local excision and SNB as soon as possible, causing time pressure.

Objective: To investigate the role of time interval between melanoma diagnosis and SNB on sentinel node (SN) positivity and survival. Read More

Eur J Surg Oncol 2017 Mar 24;43(3):517-533. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

From the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Plesmanlaan 121, NL-1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is the most accurate staging tool for melanoma patients. The procedure is indicated especially for intermediate thickness melanoma (pT2/3). SNB can be of value in thin melanoma (>0. Read More

Crit Rev Oncog 2016 ;21(1-2):25-36

Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida.

Pediatric melanoma has been rising in incidence in recent years and its management poses challenges that are frequently exacerbated by diagnostic uncertainty about the benign or malignant nature of many pediatric melanocytic neoplasms. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), originally described by Dr. Donald L. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016 Dec;142(12):1171-1176

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical School and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor.

Importance: Metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to the nodal basin is associated with a poor prognosis. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for regional staging in patients diagnosed with SCC is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate a single institution's experience with use of SLNB for regional staging of SCC on the head and neck. Read More

Pol Przegl Chir 2016 May;88(3):130-5

Unlabelled: At present, sentinel lymph node biopsy is a standard procedure to assess the advancement of breast cancer and cutaneous melanoma. The aim of the study was to assess the role of the sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of patients with breast cancer in our own material.

Material And Methods: Analyzed was medical documentation of 258 patients with initially operable breast cancer, qualified for operation with sentinel lymph node biopsy in 2004-2014 in the Department of Surgery of the 4th Military Teaching Hospital. Read More

J Am Coll Surg 2016 Jul 26;223(1):77-85.e1. Epub 2016 Mar 26.

Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Background: The role of SLNB for in-transit (IT) melanoma is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the rate and prognostic significance of occult nodal disease in patients undergoing surgical nodal staging for IT disease.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with IT melanoma from May 2005 through September 2014. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2016 Jan-Feb;26(1):34-48

School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, c/ Profesor Beltrán Báguena, 8 46009 Valencia, Spain.

Background: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy and the benefit of immunotherapy with interferon in thick (>4 mm) melanomas remain uncertain.

Objectives: Our aim was to assess the value of both sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and immunotherapy in the prognosis of thick melanomas.

Methods: A retrospective study based on a computerized patient database in which patients have been prospectively collected since 2005 was performed. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2016 May;38(5):338-46

*Department of Dermatology, University Hospital "Clínico Lozano Blesa", Zaragoza, Spain; †Translational Cancer Research Unit Antwerp, Oncology Center, General Hospital Sint-Augustinus, Wilrijk, Belgium; ‡Department of Pathology, University Hospital "Miguel Servet", Zaragoza, Spain; §Department of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; and ¶Department of Oncology, KU of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Lymph node angio- and lymphangio-genesis have been shown to play an important role in the premetastatic niche of sentinel lymph nodes. In the current study we have investigated the association of angio- and lympangio-genesis related parameters in metastatic sentinel lymph nodes of patients with melanoma with the presence of nonsentinel and distant organ metastasis. Peritumoral and intratumoral relative blood and lymphatic vessel areas (evaluated by Chalkley method), blood and lymphatic microvessel densities, and the rates of blood and lymphatic vessel proliferation were assessed in primary tumors and sentinel lymph node metastasis of 44 patients with melanoma using CD34/Ki-67 and D240/Ki-67 immunohistochemical double staining. Read More

J Clin Oncol 2016 Apr 8;34(10):1079-86. Epub 2016 Feb 8.

Kelly M. McMasters, Michael E. Egger, Robert C.G. Martin II, and Charles R. Scoggins, University of Louisville, James Graham Brown Cancer Center; Arnold J. Stromberg, University of Kentucky; and Lee J. Hagendoorn, Advertek Louisville, KY; Michael J. Edwards and Jeffrey J. Sussman, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; Merrick I. Ross and Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; Peter D. Beitsch, Dallas Surgical Group, Dallas, TX; Douglas S. Reintgen, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL; R. Dirk Noyes, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT; James S. Goydos, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ; Marshall M. Urist, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL; Stephan Ariyan, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; and B. Scott Davidson, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, Melanoma and Sarcoma Specialists of Georgia, Atlanta, GA.

Purpose: The Sunbelt Melanoma Trial is a prospective randomized trial evaluating the role of high-dose interferon alfa-2b therapy (HDI) or completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for patients with melanoma staged by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy.

Patients And Methods: Patients were eligible if they were age 18 to 70 years with primary cutaneous melanoma ≥ 1.0 mm Breslow thickness and underwent SLN biopsy. Read More

Nucl Med Rev Cent East Eur 2016 ;19(1):42-5

Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Sentinel node mapping is an integral part of regional lymph node staging in many solid tumors and plays an important role in surgical oncology. This technique has been used with excellent results for non-melanoma skin cancers including Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). In the current study, we reported our first MCC patient who underwent successful sentinel node mapping. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2016 May 23;23(5):1708-15. Epub 2015 Nov 23.

Section of Dermatology, Medical Sciences Department, Dermatologic Clinic, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Background: Multiple lymphatic basin drainage (MLBD) is frequently observed in patients with trunk melanoma undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. Conflicting data regarding the prognostic association of MLBD in SLN-negative patients have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of MLBD in patients with negative SLN biopsy. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2015 ;23(3):185-94

Luca Roncati MD, PhD Department of Diagnostic and Clinical Medicine and of Public Health, Section of Pathology University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Policlinico Hospital, I-41124 Modena (MO), Italy;

Cutaneous melanocytic lesions with atypical histological features can be difficult to categorize as benign or malignant. In the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions, the melanocytic tumor of uncertain malignant potential (MELTUMP) category has been widely used. Although one may favor a benign or malignant interpretation, a definitive diagnosis is not always possible, and long term clinical follow-up remains the only true evidence of biological behavior. Read More

J Transl Med 2015 Sep 30;13:319. Epub 2015 Sep 30.

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Characterization of PD-L1 expression within clinically/radiologically negative but microscopically tumor positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) is important to our understanding of the relevance of this immune checkpoint pathway for adjuvant therapy.

Methods: Patients included had primary cutaneous melanoma, Breslow thickness of 2.01-4. Read More

Mod Pathol 2015 Dec 25;28(12):1535-44. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Melanoma patients with sentinel lymph node metastases have variable 5-year survival rates (39-70%). The prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in sentinel lymph node metastases from such patients is currently unknown. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have significantly improved clinical outcome in unresectable AJCC stage IIIC/IV metastatic melanoma patients, and are being trialed in the adjuvant setting in advanced stage disease, however, their role in early stage (sentinel lymph node positive) metastatic disease remains unclear. Read More

Eur J Dermatol 2015 Sep-Oct;25(5):472-6

University Clinic for Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital, Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.

Background: The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and its benefits in patients with thick melanoma is still controversial.

Objectives: We evaluated the clinical effect of SLNB in patients with thick melanoma.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort review (1996-2012) of thick melanomas. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2016 May 11;86(5):348-55. Epub 2015 Sep 11.

Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is recommended for selected melanoma patients in many parts of the world. This review examines the evidence surrounding the accuracy and prognostic value of SNB and completion neck dissection in head and neck melanoma. Sentinel nodes were identified in an average of 94. Read More

Clin Transl Oncol 2016 Apr 18;18(4):418-25. Epub 2015 Aug 18.

Nuclear Medicine Department, Marañón Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Introduction: SPECT-CT in the detection of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) of breast cancer offers known advantages over conventional planar lymphoscintigraphy. Sometimes, it shows atypical findings like mediastinal lymphatic drainage. We have evaluated these atypical findings showed by SPECT-CT performed in patients with migration to the internal mammary chain (IMC) and their roles in the management of the patients. Read More

Cleve Clin J Med 2015 Aug;82(8):479-80

Departments of Dermatology and Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Cleve Clin J Med 2015 Aug;82(8):479

Providence Medical Group, Torrance, CA, USA.

Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol 2016 Jan-Feb;35(1):22-8. Epub 2015 Jul 4.

Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.

Objective: Assess the role of SPECT-CT in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the accurate anatomical location of the SNL in patients with cutaneous head and neck melanoma.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from February 2010 to June 2013 on 22 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of cutaneous head and neck melanoma (9 female, 13 male), with a mean age of 55 years old and who met the inclusion criteria for SLN biopsy. Patients underwent preoperative scanning after peri-scar injection of (99m)Tc-labeled-nanocolloid. Read More

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2016 Jan 26;142(1):73-6. Epub 2015 Jun 26.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, Via Cosimo il Vecchio n. 2, 50141, Florence, Italy.

Introduction: In 2009, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) incorporated the tumor mitotic rate in the melanoma pathological TNM staging system. To investigate the effect of this change on the pT1 substaging of primary cutaneous melanomas, we reclassified the cases collected by a cancer registry according to the 6th and the 7th editions of AJCC melanoma staging.

Methods: Patients with pathological T1 melanoma diagnosed in the period 2000-2008 were selected from Tuscan Cancer Registry. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2015 Jul;73(1):127-37

Department of Dermatology, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address:

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer in the world. A minority of patients will be given a diagnosis of a high-risk cSCC (HRcSCC) and a proportion of these will have a poor outcome. HRcSCC is characterized by an increase in aggressiveness manifested as locoregional recurrence, and occasionally death. Read More

Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2015 Aug 23;27(8):436-44. Epub 2015 May 23.

Oncology Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare skin tumour with a poor outcome and high rates of both local and distant recurrence despite radical management. We review the management of local and locoregional disease, and the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in staging. This overview aims to highlight some of the controversies regarding the current treatment of this disease, which seems to be on the increase. Read More

Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2015 :e519-26

From the Division of Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Radiation Oncology and Skin and Melanoma Tumour Stream, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and the Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Division of Cancer Medicine, and Head and Neck Tumour Stream, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous cancer that predominantly occurs in patients who are older, and is associated with a high rate of distant failure and mortality. Current management strategies that incorporate surgery and radiotherapy achieve high rates of locoregional control, but distant failure rates remain problematic, highlighting the need for new effective systemic therapies. Chemotherapy can achieve high response rates of limited duration in the metastatic setting, but its role in definitive management remains unproven. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2015 ;23(1):43-7

Michał Adamczyk, MD, ul. Radziwiłłowska 13, 20-080 Lublin, Poland;

The number of dermatologic entities that can be studied by ultrasound examination (US) of the skin is increasing. Conventional US and high frequency US (HFUS) are considered useful additional tools in improving the diagnosis and management of common benign and malignant skin tumors. US may help in positive and differential diagnosis of primary melanocytic neoplasms and of locoregional spread in melanoma patients. Read More

J Dermatol Sci 2015 Jul 18;79(1):38-42. Epub 2015 Apr 18.

Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Disease Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Although extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) mostly presents as intraepithelial carcinoma, we sometimes encounter patients with invasive EMPD (iEMPD) who have lymph node metastasis and may develop distant metastasis. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely accepted for various cancers, there is no large study that has assessed its role in iEMPD.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess the role of SLNB in patients with iEMPD. Read More

Melanoma Res 2015 Aug;25(4):306-11

aEpidemiology Unit bPathology Unit cOncology Unit dSurgery Department of Plastic Surgery eMedical Direction, IDI-IRCCS fDepartment of Epidemiology of the Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy.

Understanding differences in survival across distinct subgroups of melanoma patients may help with the choice of types of therapy. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are considered a manifestation of the host immune response to tumor, but the role of TILs in melanoma mortality is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate independent prognostic factors for melanoma mortality. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2015 Jun 14;50(6):1019-23. Epub 2015 Mar 14.

Pediatric Surgical Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Purpose: We evaluated prognostic factors among young patients with early stage melanoma, with particular attention to survival, recurrence, and development of a second primary melanoma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients (age <22 years) with pathologically confirmed in-situ and stage 1 non-Spitzoid melanoma treated at our institution from 1980-2010, assessing demographics, clinical presentation, treatment, disease-specific survival, recurrence-free survival, and probability of developing a second primary melanoma.

Results: One hundred patients with in-situ melanoma (n=16) or stage 1A (n=48) or 1B (n=36) melanoma were identified. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2015 Mar 26;86(ePub). Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Aim: The aim of this study was to report a case concerning diagnostic and management of Anorectal melanoma.

Material: A 71 years old white man presented in our Institute with anal pain, tenesmus, blooding rectal during the last five months. The ano-rectal examination showed a brownish painful mass in the anal canal. Read More

Chirurgia (Bucur) 2015 Jan-Feb;110(1):26-32

Background: Identification and biopsy of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in early-stage breast cancer (T1-T2N0) has become the standard method in the surgical treatment of the axilla, due to its accuracy in the evaluation of axillary lymph node status,thus avoiding extensive axillary lymph node dissection inpatients with negative SLN. The aim of our study is to highlight the role of 99mTc-nanocolloid lymphoscintigraphy in the preoperative lymphatic mapping, especially for SLN localizations outside the axilla, as well as the benefits of this technique in the accurate staging of breast cancer.

Materials And Method: 430 patients (age 31-81 years) with breast cancer (T1-T2N0 stage) were included in the study group, who underwent lymphoscintigraphy in order to identify the sentinel lymph node in the Nuclear Medicine Department of "€œProf. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2015 Mar;172(3):571-3

Departments of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, U.S.A.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a standard procedure for many patients with melanoma and is recommended in numerous national and professional melanoma guidelines. The Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-1) confirms earlier large database studies and prospective clinical trials in demonstrating the independent and unequalled prognostic value of the SLN. It also demonstrates the ability of biopsy-directed management to provide effective regional disease control with the least possible morbidity. Read More

Magy Onkol 2015 Mar 17;59(1):68-72. Epub 2015 Feb 17.

Onkodermatológiai Osztály, Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Budapest, Hungary.

The continuously increasing incidence of melanoma and new developments in the therapy of metastatic disease require accurate diagnosis in all stages of melanoma. This study overviews the development of diagnostics tools in recent years/decades that are used in everyday medical practice such as optical diagnostic tools utilized for diagnosing primary tumors, sentinel lymph node biopsy, developments in molecular diagnostics, as well as the role of PET/CT in imaging techniques. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2016 Feb 11;57(1):3-13. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

Department of Dermatology, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Perineural invasion (PNI) occurring in non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) is associated with an increased risk of locoregional recurrence and reduced disease-free survival. This necessitates early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate risk-stratification and a clear management strategy. The diagnosis of PNI is based on careful clinical assessment, imaging and histopathology. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2015 Nov 25;22(12):4073-80. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Center for Dermato-Oncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) plays an important role in the prognostic classification of melanoma and is now a standard staging procedure. However, due to the complex drainage pattern and the risk of site associated morbidity, the potential survival benefit of SLNB is controversial in head and neck (H&N) melanoma.

Methods: Patients with primary H&N melanoma with a tumor thickness ≥1. Read More

Eur J Surg Oncol 2015 Feb 5;41(2):197-200. Epub 2014 Nov 5.

Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.

Background: Currently there is no consensual agreement on the standard use of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) in staging of high-risk patients.

Objective: The objective was to define the predictive value and role of SLNB combined with the different high-risk factors to determine which patients could benefit from SLNB.

Method: We conducted a review of the literature on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and SLNB published in the year 2000 until May 2012. Read More

Lymphology 2014 Sep;47(3):134-41

A retrospective study of 67 patients with metastatic melanoma was performed to evaluate if imaging from lymphoscintigraphy could predict a higher miss rate if only the most radioactive node were removed. Following protocol for sentinel node biopsy, the surgeon resected all lymph nodes containing radioactivity > 10% of the most radioactive node. A correlation was performed between the radioactive counts of the lymph nodes and the presence of metastases. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2015 12;22(6):1967-73. Epub 2014 Nov 12.

Section of Dermatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy,

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is currently recommended for patients with intermediate-thickness melanomas (T2-T3). Historically, T4 melanoma patients have not been considered good candidates for SLNB because of the high risk of distant progression. However, some authors suggest that T4 melanoma patients could be considered as a heterogeneous group that could benefit from SLNB. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2014 ;158:A8113

Nederlands Kanker Instituut-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (NKI-AVL), afd. Chirurgische-Oncologie, Amsterdam.

The definitive results of the MSLT-1 study in melanoma patients were published recently. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure shows no survival benefit compared with observation. The authors reported, however, that there was a survival benefit with "biopsy management" of patients. Read More

Strahlenther Onkol 2015 Jan 8;191(1):51-8. Epub 2014 Oct 8.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany,

Purpose: The nodal relapse pattern of surgically staged Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) with/without elective nodal radiotherapy (RT) was studied in a single institution.

Method: A total of 51 patients with MCC, 33% UICC stage I, 14% II, 53% III (4 lymph node metastases of unknown primary) were eligible. All patients had surgical staging: 23 patients sentinel node biopsy (SNB), 22 patients SNB followed by lymphadenectomy (LAD) and 6 patients LAD. Read More

Ann Surg Oncol 2015 Feb 26;22(2):475-81. Epub 2014 Sep 26.

Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Purpose: To analyze a large, single-institution database to further understanding of melanoma in-transit metastases (ITM) with regard to incidence, prognosis, and the role of lymphadenectomy.

Methods: A total of 11,614 patients with single primary cutaneous melanomas were treated at Melanoma Institute Australia between January 1994 and December 2009. Of these, 505 developed ITM. Read More

Surg Clin North Am 2014 Oct 7;94(5):1003-15, viii. Epub 2014 Aug 7.

Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, SRB 4.24012, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Electronic address:

In-transit disease is defined as any dermal or subcutaneous metastases that arise between the primary melanoma but not beyond the draining regional nodal basin. Patients who develop in-transit disease are at further risk to develop additional locoregional and distant disease. Treatment must be individualized and take into consideration the extent of disease, tumor characteristics, and patient characteristics including age, comorbidities, previous therapies, and site of recurrence. Read More