John J. Coleman

Predicting sentinel and residual lymph node basin disease after sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma

The selection of patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) and selective lymphadenectomy for histologically positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLND) are areas of debate. The authors of the current study attempted to identify predictors of metastases to the sentinel and residual nonsentinel lymph nodes in patients with melanoma.

Prospective Study of Fluorodeoxyglucose–Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Lymph Node Basins in Melanoma Patients Undergoing Sentinel Node Biopsy

PURPOSE To prospectively compare positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of regional lymph node basins to sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I, II, and III melanoma localized to the skin. METHODS Patients with cutaneous melanoma with Breslows depth greater than 1 mm (AJCC T2-4N0M0) or localized regional cutaneous recurrence (TxN2bM0) underwent whole-body imaging of glucose metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET followed by SNB. PET scans were interpreted in a blinded fashion and compared with histologic analyses of SNB specimens and clinical follow-up examination. Nodal tumor volumes were estimated. RESULTS Eighty-nine lymph node basins were evaluated by FDG-PET and SNB in 70 assessable patients. Eighteen patients (25.7%) had lymph node metastases at the time of FDG-PET imaging: 17 proved by SNB (24.3%) and one by follow-up examination (1.4%). Median tumor volume in positive sentinel node basins was 4.3 mm3 (range, 0.07 to 523 mm3). Sensitivity of SNB for detection of occult regional lymph node metastases was 94.4%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 100%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 98.6%. Sensitivity of FDG-PET was 16.7%, specificity was 95.8%, PPV was 50%, and NPV was 81.9%. At a median follow-up duration of 16.6 months, seven patients (10%) developed recurrent disease. PET predicted one recurrence (14.3%) in a node basin missed by SNB. CONCLUSION FDG-PET is an insensitive indicator of occult regional lymph node metastases in patients with melanoma because of the minute tumor volumes in this population. FDG-PET does not have a primary role for staging regional nodes in patients with clinically localized melanoma.

The bipedicled osteocutaneous scapula flap : a new subscapular system free flap

Thirty-six adult dissections (14 cadaver and 22 operative) demonstrate the constant presence of the angular branch of the thoracodorsal artery as a vascular pedicle to the inferior pole of the scapula. This vessel originated in all cases just proximal or distal to the serratus branch of the thoracodorsal artery and arborized to the periosteum 6 to 9 cm from the bony branch of the circumflex scapular artery. In eight patients, scapular osteocutaneous flaps were raised preserving the angular branch and the circumflex scapular artery and dissecting up to the subscapular vessels. In all cases, bone was independently perfused by the angular branch. In all six cases where the angular branch was the sole supply to bone, technetium-99m scans demonstrated perfusion. Addition of this vascular pedicle to scapula bone allows two separate bone flaps with one microanastomosis and provides a longer arc of rotation between skin supplied by the circumflex scapular artery and bone. Donor-site morbidity was no greater than with the standard scapula flap.

Role of tensor fasciae latae in abdominal wall reconstruction

&NA; The role of the tensor fasciae latae as autogenous tissue in reconstruction of abdominal wall defects is well established. The use of various forms of the tensor fasciae latae (free graft versus pedicled flap versus free flap) is determined by the characteristics of the defect. A review of abdominal wall reconstructions using tensor fasciae latae was completed to determine efficacy and establish guidelines for its use. Abdominal wall reconstructions from 1991 to 1994 using tensor fasciae latae were reviewed. Demographics, wound characteristics, and complications were evaluated. Twenty‐seven patients with a mean follow‐up of 23.6 months underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with the tensor fasciae latae: free grafts, 12; pedicled flaps, 9; and free flaps, 6. An average defect size of 14.4 × 13.1 cm was seen. Fourteen (52 percent) of the reconstructions were completed in contaminated or infected wounds. One recurrent enteric fistula was seen. Twelve (44 percent) of the patients had flap complications of which 50 percent involved partial flap necrosis. Donor site complications were seen in five patients (18 percent) and included a hematoma, seroma, and two cases of skin graft dehiscence along the edge of the wound. Tensor fasciae latae free grafts are an option for repair of abdominal hernias if abdominal soft tissue is adequate. Pedicled flaps may be used for defects of soft tissue and fascia but are limited by the arc of rotation and size of the defect. Tensor fasciae latae free flaps are versatile in orientation and may be used for supraumbilical defects. Tip necrosis is significant in both types of vascularized flaps.

Inefficacy of F‐18 fluorodeoxy‐D‐glucose‐positron emission tomography scans for initial evaluation in early‐stage cutaneous melanoma

The purpose of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of initial F‐18 fluorodeoxy‐D‐glucose‐positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) scanning for detection of occult lymph node and distant metastases in patients with early‐stage cutaneous melanoma.

Ten years experience with the free jejunal autograft

Retrospective analysis by chart review, personal interview, and physical examination identified 88 patients who received 96 jejunal free flaps over a 10 year period. Seventy-nine of these patients had cancer. There were 13 operative failures (13.5 percent) in 10 patients. Failures were attributed to arterial thrombosis in four instances, venous anastomotic problems in four instances, fistula and infection in the neck in one instance, carotid blowout in one instance, psychosis with avulsion in one instance, and an unknown cause in two instances. Seven second attempts at salvage of jejunal flaps were performed with five successes. There were five deaths in the perioperative period (6 percent). Of these, one was directly attributed to graft failure. The following eight abdominal complications required operation: wound dehiscence (four instances), small bowel obstruction (one instance), Mallory-Weiss tear (one instance), gastrostomy tube leak (one instance), and acute gastric dilatation (one instance). Complications in the neck included infection (six instances), infection requiring operation (three instances), hematoma (three instances), and suture line dehiscence (one instance). Fistulas developed in 28 patients (32 percent), 12 of whom required operative closure (43 percent). Significant stenosis developed in six patients, two of whom required operative revision. Of 79 patients treated for cancer, 34 died from progression of disease which recurred an average of 9.7 months postoperatively. Death ensued an average of 16.7 months postoperatively. Ten patients died with no evidence of disease. At last follow-up, 28 patients were alive without apparent disease. Twenty-six of these patients have good swallowing function. Significant palliation and a high rate of restoration of function are possible with the free jejunal autograft. Careful patient selection should markedly decrease operative morbidity and mortality.

The Prognostic Importance of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Thin Melanoma

BackgroundSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is prognostically useful in patients with cutaneous melanoma with Breslow thickness >1 mm. The objective of this study was to determine whether sentinel node histology has similar prognostic importance in patients with thin melanomas (≤1 mm).MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients who underwent SLNB for clinically localized melanoma at Indiana University Medical Center between 1994 and 2003. SLNB results and traditional melanoma prognostic indicators were studied in univariate log-rank tests.ResultsOne hundred eighty-four patients with melanomas ≤1 mm thick underwent SLNB. SLNB was tumor positive in 12 patients (6.5%). Univariate analysis of SLNB results revealed that Breslow thickness, Clark level of invasion, and mitotic index were associated with SLNB status. Tumor positivity was observed at different rates in tumor thickness subsets: <.75 mm, 2.3%; and .75 to 1.0 mm, 10.2% (P = .0372). Disease-free survival and overall survival were significantly associated with SLNB results in melanomas ≤1 mm (log-rank test: P < .0001 and P = .0125, respectively) at a median follow-up of 26.3 months.ConclusionsSLNB histology in melanomas ≤1.0 mm deep is a significant predictor of outcome. SLNB should be considered for selected patients with melanomas .75 to 1.0 mm.

Current therapy of cutaneous melanoma.

Melanoma is a growing public health problem. Optimal care of the melanoma patient is multidisciplinary, but plastic surgeons and other surgical specialties play a central role in the management of these patients. Although surgery remains the mainstay of therapy for melanoma, several recent clinical studies have helped to clarify the biology of the disease and have changed the patterns of care for patients with melanoma. The advent of lymphatic mapping for interrogation of regional lymph nodes and interferon as the first effective postsurgical adjuvant therapy have had a major impact on the care of melanoma in the United States and elsewhere. This article will review the current clinical approach and therapy for cutaneous melanoma. The diagnosis, prognostic variables, staging evaluation, current surgical and medical treatment, and follow-up guidelines for patients with all stages of melanoma are reviewed. Recent studies, controversies, and directions of future investigational therapies will be discussed.

Jejunal free autograft: analysis of complications and their resolution.

Review of 101 patients who underwent 111 free jejunal autografts has demonstrated an absolute procedural failure rate of 13.5 percent. Salvage reconstruction with a second jejunum was successful in six of nine patients and one third-time jejunum was successful, giving an overall salvage rate of 70 percent. There were 33 patients experiencing pharyngocutaneous fistulas, 20 of whom had been previously irradiated. Of these patients, 15 experienced spontaneous closure and 9 others had successful surgical correction. The mortality rate was 5 percent. Eighty-three percent of patients were restored to adequate per oral alimentation. The jejunum, despite its relatively high complication rate, is an excellent method for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, expeditiously providing return to function for patients with late-stage disease.

Initial assessment of positron emission tomography for detection of nonpalpable regional lymphatic metastases in melanoma.

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of position emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG‐PET) for detection of nonpalpable regional lymph node metastases in patients with melanoma.