Vulvar primitive melanoma and sentinel lymph node: case report

The case of a 54-year-old woman who developed vulvar melanoma arising from a melanocytic lesion, extending from the clitoris to the left labium minor, without clinical involvement of the groin node station bilaterally is presented. The patient first underwent an incisional diagnostic biopsy that revealed a melanoma 4 mm in thickness; subsequently preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with 99m Tc Nanocoll was executed. Surgery consisted of a radio-controlled lymphadenectomy and radical vulvectomy. Two bilateral subgluteus soft-tissue flaps were made to reconstruct the surgical defect, anastomosing the urethral and vaginal stump. At 36 months follow-up the patient was negative for neoplastic recurrence.