Meirion Thomas
Consultant Surgeon at The Royal Marsden Hospital, London and holder of a Personal Chair in Surgical Oncology at Imperial College London
Ultrasound is the alternative to Sentinel Node Biopsy
Regular ultrasound surveillance of lymph nodes is an alternative to sentinel node biopsy. It offers an effective non-invasive method of monitoring disease activity. We explore reasons to use this modality.
Prognostic false-positivity of the sentinel node in melanoma
Nature Clinical Practice Oncology (2008) 5, 18-23
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma in 2008
Principles and Practice of Oncology 2008 Update
Excessive and unnecessary surgery in melanoma
A massive 96% of patients undergo unnecessary and excessive surgery for this condition. From May 5th 2008 NHS Library on cancer explores the evidence basis for this treatment.
Treatment of in-transit metastatic melanoma
When melanoma spreads, it does so invariably by the lymphatic system which drains to the regional lymph nodes. Uncommonly, melanoma can become trapped in the lymphatic vessels and grow to cause tumour nodules in the skin called in-transit disease which has its own highly specialised treament methods and outcomes.
The Sentinel Node Biopsy Procedure in Melanoma does not offer a survival advantage
Sentinel Node Biopsy has been accepted into everyday Melanoma practice, but we explore the evidence base for this procedure, exposing why it may not offer the advantages sometimes promised by clinicians.
Excision surgery: the basics
Wide excision and excision are biopsies explained
Lymph Node Surgery
Lymphadenectomy surgery is used when melanoma spreads to the lymphatics, in an attempt to remove cancerous nodes and stem further spread. The procedure is sometimes used diagnostically.
Breslow thickness and Ulceration predict survival
Breslow depth and ulceration of a primary tumour can have a significant impact on the survival time of a patient
Prognostic factors from the primary tumour
Which prognostic factors relate directly to the characteristics of the primary tumour itself rather than other components of the full staging process