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[The detection of melanoma metastases in sentinel nodes by polymerase chain reaction]
M Poelman1, D van der Velde-Zimmermann, L J van Doorn
1Afd. Chirurgie, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Delft.
Objective:
To investigate the possibility of detecting melanoma metastases using molecular biological techniques in patients with a primary malignant melanoma.
Design:
Descriptive.
Setting:
Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis Hospital Delft and diagnostic centre SSDZ Delft, the Netherlands.
Methods:
A melanoma specific tyrosinase mRNA was amplified using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.
Results:
A total of 23 sentinel nodes derived from 9 patients were examined. In 14 sentinel nodes metastases were found using RT-PCR. In microscopic slides stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE) melanoma metastases were found in 2 sentinel nodes of 2 patients. With immunohistochemistry melanoma metastases were found in the same 2 sentinel nodes.
Conclusion:
It is possible to detect melanoma metastases in sentinel nodes using molecular biological techniques.