Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Dermatologieforschung
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Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of the Tracer-Count-Rate in Sentinel-Nodes in Melanoma – A Cohort Study

Omid Madadi Sanjani, Andreas Recke, Ewan A Langan, Anna L Recke and Birgit K Kahle

Background and objectives: The variability between individual count rates and blue staining in sentinel lymph nodes raises the question whether these patterns are of diagnostic or prognostic relevance.
Patients and methods: Out of a total of 168 melanoma patients who underwent surgery during 2008 to 2011, the sentinel lymph node could be identified and removed in 162 patients. To answer the questions for the diagnostic or prognostic value of the ex vivo measured tracer count rate the data of these 162 patients were retrospectively statistically analysed.
Results: Blue staining of SLNs was associated with a higher tracer count rate (*p=0.0055). The count rate was inversely proportional to patients age (p=1.48×10-5). Micro-metastases were found in 21 SLN, macro-metastases in 6. The count rate did not correlate with either tumor thickness or the presence of metastases. At the end of followup, 95 patients had stable disease, 37 had disease progression, including 16 mortalities. 32 patients were lost to follow-up. The count rate did not correlate with disease progression.
Conclusion: Radio-labelling of sentinel lymph nodes appears age-dependent, potentially indicating reduced lymphatic transport due to aging. However, tracer count rate did not reveal any prognostic value.