BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We report our experience with @entity1 affected by @entity320 undergoing sentinel node (SN) biopsy. METHODS: From November 1997 to October 2000 we performed 128 selective lymphadenectomies (SN biopsy) on 127 @entity1 with @entity320 with Breslow thickness>1 mm or regression or @entity1066 . Age, sex, @entity5 location ad histology were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty eight SNs were identified by lymphoscintigraphy in 167 lymphatic stations, 236 of them were identified intraoperatively using a gamma probe and patent blue V injection. Twenty-one @entity1 had SNs with @entity320 @entity3 (15.8%), 12 @entity1 in the groin, eight @entity1 in the axilla and one @entity1 in the neck. After therapeutic lymphadenectomy eight more lymph nodes with @entity3 of @entity320 were found in the specimens of three @entity1 . After a follow-up ranging from 10 to 56 months the results are that 111 @entity1 are free of disease. Ten @entity1 died. Three @entity1 have visceral @entity3 and are alive. One @entity1 has developed two more @entity320 . One @entity1 was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the clinical reliability of the SN technique in @entity320 ; for optimisation of the therapeutic strategy, this technique might be considered the standard method of nodal staging in the evaluation of @entity320 @entity1 .

Nodal staging in localized @entity320 . The experience of the XXXX Unit.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumour'] @entity1066 :: ('MESH:D014456', 'Disease') :: ['ulceration'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity320 :: ('MESH:D008545', 'Disease') :: ['melanoma', 'melanomas', 'cutaneous melanoma']
@entity320 :: (MESH:D008545,Disease) :: ['Brescia Melanoma']
