Pediatric melanoma: Confirming the diagnosis with sentinel node biopsy

Citation
R. Zuckerman et al., Pediatric melanoma: Confirming the diagnosis with sentinel node biopsy, ANN PL SURG, 46(4), 2001, pp. 394-399
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
ANNALS OF PLASTIC SURGERY
ISSN journal
01487043 → ACNP
Volume
46
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
394 - 399
Database
ISI
SICI code
0148-7043(200104)46:4<394:PMCTDW>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Many pediatric melanoma lesions present at a more advanced stage than those in the adult population. Clinical and histological melanoma mimics, includ ing a subset of Spitz nevi, are difficult to discriminate from melanoma. Wh en dealing with a childhood melanoma, the clinician is likely to be faced w ith a thick lesion, and one in which the actual diagnosis may even be in do ubt. There is a paucity of data to guide the physician in his management of melanoma in this age group, particularly with respect to node status and a djuvant therapy. The authors present two cases of pediatric melanoma in whi ch the novel use of sentinel node biopsy helped confirm the diagnosis of me lanoma, determined the need for full lymph node dissection, and guided the use of adjuvant interferon therapy.