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Conjunctival melanoma metastasis diagnosed by sentinel lymph node biopsy
Michael Baroody1, John B Holds, Mimi S Kokoska
1Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, USA.
Purpose:
Evaluate the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in staging and directing treatment of patients with conjunctival malignancy.
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case reports.
Methods:
Two patients with conjunctival melanoma underwent SLNB, which consisted of lymphoscintigraphy with injection of sulfur colloid technetium-99m. Lymphazurin blue was injected intraoperatively into the area of prior excision. The combination of a signal through the sulfur colloid technetium-99m and blue staining identified SLNs.
Results:
In both patients, the SLNs containing metastatic disease were identified and biopsies obtained, aiding staging and optimal therapy.
Conclusion:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been recently reported as an aid in evaluating patients with periocular malignancies. These reports of patients with tumor-positive SLNs arising from the lymphatic metastasis of conjunctival malignancies underscore the utility of this important technique in evaluating patients with periocular malignancies.