Aberrant lymphatic drainage and risk for melanoma recurrence after negative sentinel node biopsy in middle-aged and older men

作者：Kaveh Anthony H; Seminara Nicole M; Barnes Melynda A; Berger Aaron J; Chen Frank W; Yao Mike; Johnson Denise; Parsa Sean; Quon Andrew; Swetter Susan M; Sunwoo John B^*

来源：Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, 2016, 38(S1): E754-E760.

DOI：10.1002/hed.24094

• recurrence
• negative sentinel node biopsy
• head and neck melanoma
• lymphatic drainage
• discordant

Background. Aberrant lymphatic drainage is believed to contribute to the high recurrence rate of head and neck melanomas. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical significance of unexpected lymphatic drainage patterns.
Methods. A single institution retrospective analysis was performed of middle-aged and older men (mean age, 66.2 years; range, 41-87 years) who underwent successful lymphoscintigraphy with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) from 1997 through 2012. Node status, distribution, and recurrence were assessed comparing patients with expected and unexpected drainage patterns.
Results. Sixty-six patients were identified with 55.8 months median follow-up (range, 5.6-206.1 months). Unexpected sentinel lymph node drainage was associated with multiple basin drainage (p < .01) and greater recurrence after negative SLNB (p = .03). Both groups had similar anatomic distribution, sentinel lymph node sampling, histopathologic characteristics, follow-up, and survival.
Conclusion. Lymphatic drainage differing from expected patterns is associated with greater recurrence after negative SLNB in middle-aged and older men.

• 出版日期2016-4