Prospective study of sentinel lymph node biopsy for conjunctival melanoma
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Maria Tsimpida; Rino Cerio; Graeme Moir; John L. Hungerford; Hikmat Jan; Victoria M L Cohen
- Source
- The British Journal of Ophthalmology
- Subject
- Conjunctival Neoplasm
Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Sentinel lymph node
Conjunctival Neoplasms
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Young Adult
Biopsy
medicine
Prevalence
Humans
Prospective Studies
Enzyme Inhibitors
Child
Radionuclide Imaging
Melanoma
Aged
Neoplasm Staging
medicine.diagnostic_test
Neoplasia
business.industry
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Incidence
Micrometastasis
Technetium
Sentinel node
Clinical Science
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Sensory Systems
Surgery
Methylene Blue
Ophthalmology
Female
Lymph
business
Conjunctival Melanoma
Conjunctiva
Follow-Up Studies
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1468-2079
0007-1161
Background To report our experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging patients with conjunctival melanoma. Methods A prospective review of patients with conjunctival melanoma who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy at St Bartholomew9s Hospital from May 2008 to May 2012. The selection criterion for sentinel node biopsy depended on the tumour thickness (≥2 mm) and location of the conjunctival melanoma. The main outcome measures were the incidence of sentinel lymph node positivity and the procedure-related complications. Results In 4 years, 26 out of 70 patients met the selection criteria for sentinel lymph node biopsy. 4 patients declined and 22 patients consented for the procedure. Technetium-99m failed to identify a sentinel lymph node in four of the 22 patients (18%). Of the remaining 18 patients, two were found to have subclinical micrometastasis in regional lymph nodes. Median follow-up was 20 months (range 6–36 months). No false-negative events were observed. Complications of the procedure included transient blue staining of the epibulbar surface in five patients and transient facial nerve palsy in one patient. Conclusions Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a safe procedure with minimal complications. It should be considered for the staging of conjunctival melanomas, especially melanomas in non-limbal location or conjunctival melanomas ≥2 mm thick.