Morbidity after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

AIM: In this study, the short-term and long-term morbidity was assesed after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with or without completion axillary lymph node dissection (SLNB/ALND) in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

METHODS: Between 1995 and 2003, 119 axillary SLNBs were performed for cutaneous melanoma. Fifty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria and entered the study.

RESULTS: Forty-four patients underwent SLNB alone and 14 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection after positive SLNB. Complications after SLNB alone: post-operative bleeding (n=2), seroma (n=1) and slight lymphedema 11%. Complications after SLNB/ALND: wound infections (n=2), seroma (n=5) and slight lymphedema 7%. There were differences between the two groups in short-term complications (p<.001) and functional limitations of the shoulder (p=.011).

CONCLUSION: Axillary SLNB alone had a low complication rate. However, SLNB followed by completion ALND was associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term complications.