ELECTIVE LYMPH-NODE DISSECTION IN STAGE-I CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-MELANOMA OF THE HEAD AND NECK - A REPORT FROM THE SWEDISH MELANOMA STUDY-GROUP

The effect of elective lymph node dissection in patients with cutaneou s malignant melanoma of the head and neck was investigated in a retros pective study. Of 517 patients in clinical stage 1,84 underwent electi ve dissection of the ipsilateral neck lymph nodes. In six of these pat ients, lymph node metastases were demonstrated at histopathological ex amination. There was a slight reduction in the incidence of recurrent disease in the regional lymph nodes in the group of patients who had u ndergone elective lymph node dissection, but this difference was not s tatistically significant. No significant differences were seen between the two groups regarding overall survival of disease-related survival .