RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Utility of sentinel node biopsy in vulvar and vaginal melanoma: report of two cases and review of the literature
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 720
OP 723
DO 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200705000-00024
VO 17
IS 3
A1 K. K. Dhar
A1 N. Das
A1 D. A. Brinkman
A1 J. L. Beynon
A1 R. P. Woolas
YR 2007
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/17/3/720.abstract
AB Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is widely applied for treatment planning of cutaneous melanoma. However, using this strategy in female lower genital tract tumors has not yet been established. We report two cases, one each of vulvar and vaginal melanoma who underwent SN biopsy and review the available literature. Our experience and available limited evidence suggests that this low morbidity technique can be used for obtaining prognostic information and hence treatment planning for this disease. However, a false negative rate perhaps in the order of 15% suggests that careful consideration is necessary before using sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of vulvar and vaginal melanoma.