Altered drainage patterns in patients with melanoma and previous axillary dissection.

Authors

Caitlyn M. Johnson, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Charles Intenzo, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Michael Mastrangelo, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Kendra Feeney, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Adam C. Berger, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2013

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in Journal of Dermatology, Volume 40, Issue 7, July 2013, Pages 564-566.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.12143. Copyright © Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract

The incidence of melanoma is increasing rapidly in the United States. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an important diagnostic tool in the treatment and staging of melanoma. However, many patients with melanoma will have had lymph node surgery for previous melanoma or breast cancer. We set out to examine alterations in drainage patterns in patients with previous axillary dissection for breast cancer. We reviewed four patients with truncal and/or extremity melanomas and examined their lymphoscintigraphy and drainage patterns. Three patients with truncal melanoma mapped to cervical lymph nodes and a fourth patient with an arm melanoma mapped to her previously dissected axilla. Sentinel lymph node mapping is still an important adjunct in patients with melanoma despite previous axillary dissection.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Caitlyn M.; Intenzo, Charles; Mastrangelo, Michael; Feeney, Kendra; and Berger, Adam C., "Altered drainage patterns in patients with melanoma and previous axillary dissection." (2013). Department of Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 124.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/surgeryfp/124

PubMed ID

23594177