Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Negative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Melanoma: The Patient’s Perspective

  • Melanoma
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The majority of patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma will have a negative SLN. The long-term sequelae of a negative result are important when discussing this staging investigation with patients. The objective of this study was to assess rates of lymphoedema and quality of life for these patients.

Methods

A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed on patients under routine follow-up with a history of melanoma, who had undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy where no metastasis was found (N0) at a high-volume melanoma centre. Relevant limbs were measured to assess for lymphoedema and patients completed the FACT-M quality of life instrument and a study specific questionnaire.

Results

A total of 102 patients were recruited. Wound complications were observed in 25% and lymphoedema in 2% of patients. Physical and functional well-being scores were lowest in patients seen within 3 months of their SLNB. Functional well-being and quality of life improved over the 2 years following the procedure.

Conclusions

SLNB has low complication rates. The procedure is associated with a short-term impact on patient quality of life and well-being. The vast majority of patients are pleased with the outcomes of this procedure and the information that it provides.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gershenwald JE, Scolyer RA, Hess KR, et al. Melanoma staging: evidence‐based changes in the American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition cancer staging manual. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67(6):472–92.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Amin MB, Edge S, Greene F, et al. AJCC cancer staging mannual, 8th edn. Springer; 2017.

  3. Long GV, Hauschild A, Santinami M, et al. Adjuvant Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in stage III BRAF-mutated melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:1813–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Weber J, Mandala M, Del Vecchio M, et al. Adjuvant Nivolumab versus Ipilimumab in resected stage III or IV melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:1824–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Durham AB, Wong SL. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma: final results of MSLT-I. Future Oncol. 2014;10(7):1121–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Roaten JB, Pearlman N, Gonzalez R, Gonzalez R, McCarter MD. Identifying risk factors for complications following sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma. Arch Surg. 2005;140(1):85–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wrightson WR, Wong SL, Edwards MJ, et al. Complications associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2003;10(6):676–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Wasserberg N, Tulchinsky H, Schachter J, Feinmesser M, Gutman H. Sentinel-lymph-node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma is not complication-free. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2004;30(8):851–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. de Vries M, Hoekstra HJ, Hoekstra-Weebers JE. Quality of life after axillary or groin sentinel lymph node biopsy, with or without completion lymph node dissection, in patients with cutaneous melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009;16(10):2840–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Morton DL, Cochran AJ, Thompson JF, et al. Sentinel node biopsy for early-stage melanoma: accuracy and morbidity in MSLT-I, an international multicenter trial. Ann Surg. 2005;242(3):302–11.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Faries MB, Thompson JF, Cochran AJ, et al. Completion dissection or observation for sentinel-node metastasis in melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2211–22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Cormier JN, Davidson L, Xing Y, Webster K, Cella D. Measuring quality of life in patients with melanoma: development of the FACT-melanoma subscale. J Support Oncol. 2005;3(2):139–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. SAS. SAS 9.4 software. Cary: SAS Institute; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Morton RL, Tran A, Vessey JY, et al. Quality of life following sentinel node biopsy for primary cutaneous melanoma: health economic implications. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017;24(8):2071–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hettiaratchy SP, Kang N, O’Toole G, Allan R, Cook G, Powell BW. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in malignant melanoma: a series of 100 consecutive patients. Br J Plast Surg. 2000;53:559–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Thomson CH, Cassell O, Peach H, Holloway S, Garioch J, Moncrieff M. Neuropathic pain and quality of life after wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: a multicentre study. Melanoma Res. 2017;27(2):121–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Gjorup CA, Groenvold M, Hendel HW, et al. Health-related quality of life in melanoma patients: Impact of melanoma-related limb lymphoedema. Eur J Cancer. 2017;85:122–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Giese-Davis J, Waller A, Carlson LE, et al. Screening for distress, the 6th vital sign: common problems in cancer outpatients over one year in usual care: associations with marital status, sex, and age. BMC Cancer. 2012;12:441.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Holzner B, Kemmler G, Cella D, et al. Normative data for functional assessment of cancer therapy. Acta Oncol. 2004;43(2):153–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Sarah Banting BBiomed, Tina Thorpe RN, John Spillane MBBS, FRACS, David Speakman MBBS, FRACS, Michael A. Henderson MBBS, BMedSc, MD, FRACS & David E. Gyorki MBBS, MD, FRACS

  2. Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Sarah Banting BBiomed

  3. Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Donna Milne RN, PhD

  4. Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Lumine Na MS

  5. Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Michael A. Henderson MBBS, BMedSc, MD, FRACS & David E. Gyorki MBBS, MD, FRACS

Authors
  1. Sarah Banting BBiomed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Donna Milne RN, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tina Thorpe RN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lumine Na MS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. John Spillane MBBS, FRACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. David Speakman MBBS, FRACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Michael A. Henderson MBBS, BMedSc, MD, FRACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. David E. Gyorki MBBS, MD, FRACS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David E. Gyorki MBBS, MD, FRACS.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Banting, S., Milne, D., Thorpe, T. et al. Negative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Melanoma: The Patient’s Perspective. Ann Surg Oncol 26, 2263–2267 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07375-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-019-07375-y

Search

Navigation