How long can a patient with newly diagnosed merkel cell carcinoma wait for wide local excision with sentinel node biopsy?
If I can't get them in with a surgical oncologist for the lymph node would it be better to do the wide local excision in my office immediately and risk disturbing the lymphatics?
2 Answers
Mednet Member
Dermatology · Dermatology & Laser Center
Answered on
A recent study I read on this same question regarding sentinel node biopsy (SNB) performed after melanoma wide excision found that the sentinel node could still be found just fine. And I have found that in practice a number of times when I wide-excised obvious melanomas at first presentation visit. ...
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Mednet Member
Dermatology · Dept Dermatology Jefferson Medical College
Answered on
I agree, WLE can be followed by SLN Bx if melanoma data applies (and I think it does).
There is also support for local XRT to the general area following excision.
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