Feasibility and Safety of Minimally Invasive Inguinal Lymph Node Dissection in Patients With Melanoma

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

- Malignant melanoma present in an inguinal nodal basin requiring superficial inguinal
lymph node dissection.

- Plan for superficial inguinal dissection alone or combined superficial inguinal and
deep pelvic node dissection is acceptable.

- Clinical or radiographic evidence of superficial inguinal lymph node disease or a
prior positive single lymph node biopsy of the superficial inguinal basin as an
indication for superficial inguinal lymph node disease is acceptable.

- Patients must be Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
and be healthy enough to undergo a general anesthetic (no epidural or spinal
anesthetics).

- Female patients of child bearing age must have a negative pregnancy test, be
surgically sterile or post-menopausal greater than 1 year.

- Patients must be able to return to surgical facility for 30 and/or 90 day (+/- 20
days) for follow-up appointment.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prior ipsilateral superficial inguinal lymph node dissection

- Invasion or ulceration of inguinal nodal disease into the overlying skin

- Prior radiation therapy to the same regional nodal basin.