BMJ  2005;330:539 (5 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7490.539

Letter

Surgical management of metastatic inguinal lymphadenopathy

Sentinel node biopsy has cost implications for the NHS

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—In their review of the surgical management of metastatic inguinal lymphadenopathy Swan et al describe sentinel lymph node biopsy as a promising technique, which may refine the indications for inguinal lymphadenectomy and provide better prognostic information, and reduce morbidity.¹

Current UK melanoma guidelines on the role of sentinel nodes in melanoma are inadequate.² Sentinel node biopsy remains a contentious issue with current guidelines recommending it is offered in the context of a clinical trial. It is becoming an integral part of the management and staging of primary melanoma despite no proved survival benefit. To assess the cost to the NHS for sentinel node biopsy for melanoma, we reviewed 100 consecutive patients in our unit. We assessed the costs of inpatient stay, theatre time, histology, nuclear medicine, follow up, completion lymphadenectomies, and the management of complications. Our calculated total cost of sentinel node biopsy was £1550 per patient. If . . . [Full text of this article]

nshamsian@hotmail.com, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG

Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG

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Relevant Article

Surgical management of metastatic inguinal lymphadenopathy

Marc C Swan, Dominic Furniss, and Oliver C S Cassell
BMJ 2004 329: 1272-1276. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]