Abstract

APONTE-RUEDA, María Eugenia  and  SAADE CARDENAS, Ramón A. Rol de la linfadenectomía en el manejo quirúrgico del cáncer de piel. RFM [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.2, pp.128-132. ISSN 0798-0469.

The disease status of the tumor-draining regional lymph node remains the most important predictor of survival and recurrence in patients with melanoma; others predictor factors of nodal metastases do not have to replace surgical resection and histopathologic examination as the most accurate method for assessing spread of disease to the lymph nodes. Because the sentinel lymph node is the first nodal drainage site, its tumor status can be used to predict the tumor status of the remaining nodes in the regional draining; furthermore, its detailed histopathological and molecular analysis provides far more accurate staging information than standard pathological assessment of the numerous nodes randomly removed. This assessment identifies patients who may benefit from a completion lymphadenectomy which is the only effective therapeutic option for local control and potential cure. Current controversy remains regarding whether lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy is a diagnostic procedure or a therapeutic intervention. This study allows us to reflect the role of lymphadenectomy in melanoma, particularly at light on ongoing clinical trials.

Keywords : Melanoma; Lymphadenectomy; Sentinel node biopsy; Clinical trials.