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Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Analysis of Lymph Node Volume by Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging in the Braf/Pten Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Melanoma
Published on: September 8, 2021
Does the time interval between sentinel lymph node biopsy and completion lymph node dissection affect outcome in
G Richtig1, E Richtig2, A N Neiss3
1Otto Loewi Research Center, Pharmacology Section, Medical University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, A-8010, Graz, Austria; Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, A-8036, Graz, Austria.
Delays in melanoma treatment after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) increase the risk of additional metastases. Prompt completion lymph node dissection (CLND) after SLNB is crucial for managing melanoma spread.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard for melanoma staging.
- Further metastases in completion lymph node dissection (CLND) after positive SLNB occur in 6-21% of cases.
- The impact of time intervals on metastasis detection is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of time intervals in melanoma progression.
- To determine the influence of time between primary melanoma diagnosis and SLNB, and between SLNB and CLND, on metastasis.
- To identify risk factors for non-sentinel lymph node metastases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective monocentric analysis of 121 patients with positive SLNB and subsequent CLND.
- Data collected from January 2005 to October 2013.
- Statistical analysis of time intervals, TNM classification, and primary tumor thickness.
Main Results:
- Additional metastases in non-sentinel nodes were found in 14.05% of patients.
- Significant risk factors for CLND metastases included time to SLNB (p=0.0034) and N-category (p=0.0066).
- Delay >80 days between primary melanoma diagnosis and SLNB resulted in 100% positive CLND, versus <9.1% for delays ≤43 days.
Conclusions:
- Time intervals between melanoma diagnosis, SLNB, and CLND significantly impact metastasis detection.
- Delayed SLNB after primary melanoma diagnosis may increase non-sentinel lymph node positivity.
- Reconsideration of the timing for SLNB and CLND in melanoma management is suggested to potentially avoid local relapse.
