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Case Studies | Oncology Science | Bulgaria | Volume 13 Issue 8, August 2024 | Rating: 3.5 / 10
Surgical Staging and Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Early Melanoma - Case Study
Venelin Georgiev
Abstract: Malignant melanoma (MM) is a malignant disease arising from melanocytes and primarily affecting the skin. Most newly diagnosed cases lack metastatic data, with 71.5% in stages I-II. The majority are in stage II (42.7%), indicating a prevalence of locally advanced tumors (stage T2b and above) without evident metastasis at the time of diagnosis. These patients remain under active surveillance while being at increased risk of disease progression. The role of surgery is shifting from an exclusive method for radical treatment towards increasingly serving as an early staging method to refine adjuvant therapy for these patients. With the abandonment of elective (prophylactic) lymph node dissections in early melanoma without clinical evidence of regional metastasis, SLNB (Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy) becomes the sole method for detecting micrometastases in these patients. With a higher percentage of detected subclinical metastases and fewer intra- and post-operative complications, amidst increasing needs for early staging with new adjuvant treatment regimens in the early stages of the disease, SLNB has solidified its position as a widely used procedure with expanded indications. In the era of modern adjuvant treatment for early melanoma, SLNB surgery plays a crucial role in accurate staging and risk determination in patients, aiming to refine subsequent treatment and follow-up.
Keywords: early melanoma, sentinel node, staging, adjuvant therapy
Edition: Volume 13 Issue 8, August 2024,
Pages: 109 - 112