Clinical Trials

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.