High Risk for Regional Recurrence for Melanoma Patients Who Underwent Lymphadenectomy

  • Patients considered at high risk for regional recurrence following lymphadenectomy for melanoma:
    • May be considered for adjuvant radiation:
      • Which may decrease regional recurrence:
        • By approximately 50%
  • High-risk patients include:
    • Those with extranodal spread
    • Multiple nodes involved:
      • ≥ 2 nodes in the neck or axilla
      • ≥ 3 nodes in the inguinal basin
    • Those with large positive nodes:
      • ≥ 3 cm nodes in the neck
      • ≥ 4 cm in the inguinal or axillary basins
  • While adjuvant radiation may decrease regional recurrence by approximately 50%:
    • There is no survival benefit seen
  • Radiation is known to increase the rate of lymphedema
  • References:
    • Burmeister BH, Henderson MA, Ainslie J, et al. Adjuvant radiotherapy versus observation alone for patients at risk of lymph-node field relapse after therapeutic lymphadenectomy for melanoma: a randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2012; 13(6): 589-97.

#Arrangoiz #SurgicalOncologist #CancerSurgeon #HeadandNeckSurgeon #ThyroidSurgeon #ParathyroidSurgeon #SkinCancer #Melanoma #MountSinaiMedicalCenter #MSMC #Miami #Mexico

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