ObjectiveThe authors report the feasibility and accuracy of intraoperative lymphatic mapping with sentinel lymphadenectomy in patients with breast cancerSummary Background DataAxillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer generally is accepted for its staging and prognostic value, but the

Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: To revise the staging system for cutaneous melanoma under the auspices of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prognostic factors analysis described in the companion publication (this issue), as well as evidence from the published literature, was used to assemble the tumor-node-metastasis criteria and stage grouping for the melanoma staging system. RESULTS: Major changes include (1) melanoma thickness and ulceration but not level of invasion to be used in the T category (except for T1 melanomas); (2) the number of metastatic lymph nodes rather than their gross dimensions and the delineation of clinically occult (ie, microscopic) versus clinically apparent (ie, macroscopic) nodal metastases to be used in the N category; (3) the site of distant metastases and the presence of elevated serum lactic dehydrogenase to be used in the M category; (4) an upstaging of all patients with stage I, II, and III disease when a primary melanoma is ulcerated; (5) a merging of sa...

/pdf/final-version-of-the-american-joint-committee-on-cancer-4h72571lv0.pdf

Final Version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System for Cutaneous Melanoma

Pathological prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Background Although numerous studies have shown that the status of the sentinel node is an accurate predictor of the status of the axillary nodes in breast cancer, the efficacy and safety of sentinel-node biopsy require validation. Methods From March 1998 to December 1999, we randomly assigned 516 patients with primary breast cancer in whom the tumor was less than or equal to 2 cm in diameter either to sentinel-node biopsy and total axillary dissection (the axillary-dissection group) or to sentinel-node biopsy followed by axillary dissection only if the sentinel node contained metastases (the sentinel-node group). Results The number of sentinel nodes found was the same in the two groups. A sentinel node was positive in 83 of the 257 patients in the axillary-dissection group (32.3 percent), and in 92 of the 259 patients in the sentinel-node group (35.5 percent). In the axillary-dissection group, the overall accuracy of the sentinel-node status was 96.9 percent, the sensitivity 91.2 percent, and the specifi...

A randomized comparison of sentinel-node biopsy with routine axillary dissection in breast cancer.

Background Pilot studies indicate that probe-guided resection of radioactive sentinel nodes (the first nodes that receive drainage from tumors) can identify regional metastases in patients with breast cancer. To confirm this finding, we conducted a multicenter study of the method as used by 11 surgeons in a variety of practice settings. Methods We enrolled 443 patients with breast cancer. The technique involved the injection of 4 ml of technetium-99m sulfur colloid (1 mCi [37 MBq]) into the breast around the tumor or biopsy cavity. “Hot spots” representing underlying sentinel nodes were identified with a gamma probe. Sentinel nodes subjacent to hot spots were removed. All patients underwent a complete axillary lymphadenectomy. Results The overall rate of identification of hot spots was 93 percent (in 413 of 443 patients). The pathological status of the sentinel nodes was compared with that of the remaining axillary nodes. The accuracy of the sentinel nodes with respect to the positive or negative status o...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM199810013391401

The sentinel node in breast cancer--a multicenter validation study.

• The initial route of metastases in most patients with melanoma is via the lymphatics to the regional nodes. However, routine lymphadenectomy for patients with clinical stage I melanoma remains controversial because most of these patients do not have nodal metastases, are unlikely to benefit from the operation, and may suffer troublesome postoperative edema of the limbs. A new procedure was developed using vital dyes that permits intraoperative identification of the sentinel lymph node, the lymph node nearest the site of the primary melanoma, on the direct drainage pathway. The most likely site of early metastases, the sentinel node can be removed for immediate intraoperative study to identify clinically occult melanoma cells. We successfully identified the sentinel node(s) in 194 of 237 lymphatic basins and detected metastases in 40 specimens (21%) on examination of routine hematoxylin-eosin—stained slides (12%) or exclusively in immunohistochemically stained preparations (9%). Metastases were present in 47 (18%) of 259 sentinel nodes, while nonsentinel nodes were the sole site of metastasis in only two of 3079 nodes from 194 lymphadenectomy specimens that had an identifiable sentinel node, a false-negative rate of less than 1%. Thus, this technique identifies, with a high degree of accuracy, patients with early stage melanoma who have nodal metastases and are likely to benefit from radical lymphadenectomy. (Arch Surg.1992;127:392-399)

Technical details of intraoperative lymphatic mapping for early stage melanoma.

To determine the feasibility of selective lymphadenectomy, the authors developed a feline model to identify and determine the utility of mapping dyes for this purpose. Adult cats were injected intradermally with a variety of mapping substances to determine whether the anatomic site of injection had a predictable pattern of drainage to a particular lymph node. Isosulfan blue provided the optimal mapping material. Injection of isosulfan blue intradermally into the skin of the medial thigh consistently led to coloration of the central lymph node, whereas intradermal abdominal wall injections and intradermal lateral thigh injections resulted in coloration of the lateral lymph node. Intradermal injections into skin about the perineum resulted in coloration of the most medial lymph node only. The feline model proved to a useful model to examine the utility of mapping dyes and to demonstrate dermal lymphatics. The predictable pattern of drainage of the skin in this feline model supports the feasibility of selective lymphadenectomy.

Lymphatic drainage of skin to a sentinel lymph node in a feline model.

Although the American Joint Commission has classified all synovial sarcomas as "high grade," histologic subtypes can be identified. By histologically subclassifying synovial sarcoma tumors according to percent glandularity and mitotic rates, the authors were able to define high-risk and low-risk patients. Charts and original pathologic slides were reviewed on 45 synovial sarcoma patients. With a 41-month median follow-up, the low-risk patients showed 100% survival, whereas the high-risk patients showed 37% survival.

Histologic features relating to prognosis in synovial sarcoma.

Ninety five patients who developed in transit melanoma either as their initial site of recurrent melanoma or following regional node metastases were retrospectively reviewed. In transit melanoma occurred most frequently on the lower extremity and appeared to be associated with deeply invasive primary tumors. The median time to development of in transit melanoma was 16 months. Eighty-two (86%) of these patients have progressed to systemic disease from 2 to 244 months (median 16 months) following the development of in transit melanoma, and 72 (79%) died (median survival 19 months). Survival appears to correlate with the extent of in transit melanoma and with the disease-free interval. These findings suggest that in transit melanoma represents an early manifestation of systemic disease, warranting careful clinical follow-up and perhaps systemic treatment, when effective therapy becomes available. However, some patients will respond to local immunotherapy, surgical excision, and isolated limb perfusion and will enjoy significant length and quality of life. This sequential approach remains the treatment of choice for this manifestation of metastatic melanoma.

Natural history and selective management of in transit melanoma.

• To determine the prognosis of patients with lymph node metastases from an unknown primary melanoma, we retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic features of 188 such patients treated from 1971 through 1986 and compared their records with those of patients with clinical stage II melanoma with known primary lesions. Patients with lymph node metastases from an unknown primary melanoma represented 4.6% of all patients with melanoma treated during that period. The five- and ten-year survival rates were 42% and 40%, respectively (median, 37 months). When stratified by number of tumor-containing lymph nodes, there was no significant difference in survival between patients with an unknown primary melanoma and lymph node metastases and those with clinical stage II melanoma and known primary sites. The prognosis of the former patients is no worse than that of patients with lymph node metastases from a known primary site and should be treated in a comparable manner. ( Arch Surg 1987;122:1380-1383)

Leslie A. Cagle

Papers

Technical details of intraoperative lymphatic mapping for early stage melanoma.

Lymphatic drainage of skin to a sentinel lymph node in a feline model.

Histologic features relating to prognosis in synovial sarcoma.

Natural history and selective management of in transit melanoma.

Surgical treatment of lymph nodes with metastatic melanoma from unknown primary site.