Gender differences and performance in science.
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Career Choice↗
Biomedical subjects
Denise L Johnson
Publications and source records attributed to Denise L Johnson.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma: the Stanford experience, 1997-2004.
OBJECTIVE: To review sentinel lymph node (SLN) data from Stanford University Medical Center from January 1, 1997, to January 1, 2004, including rates of SLN positivity according to 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor classification, relation to other clinical and pathologic prognostic factors, and rates and sites of melanoma recurrence. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Stanford University Medical Center and Stanford melanoma clinics. PATIENTS: A total of 274 consecutive patients with primary melanoma who underwent SLN biopsy (SLNB) between January 1, 1997, and January 1, 2004, or who were referred to the Stanford melanoma clinics after SLNB and were followed up through March 2005. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent standard wide local excision of their primary tumors and SLNB with intradermal injection of isosulfan blue dye and/or technetium sulfur colloid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Rates of SLN positivity per 2002 AJCC tumor classification, relation to other clinical and pathologic prognostic factors, and rates and sites of melanoma recurrence in node-negative and node-positive patients. RESULTS: Positive SLNs were detected in 39 (15%) of 260 cases, including 0 (0%) of 45 for cutaneous melanomas 1.0 mm thick or less (T1), 21 (18%) of 115 for melanomas 1.01 to 2.0 mm thick (T2), 12 (19%) of 64 for melanomas 2.01 to 4.0 mm thick (T3), and 5 (16%) of 32 for melanomas thicker than 4.0 mm (T4). Median Breslow depths were 1.89 mm for SLN-positive biopsy specimens and 1.50 mm for SLN-negative biopsy specimens (P = .07). The recurrence rate was 46% among SLN-positive patients, with a median time to recurrence of 8 months. Bivariate analysis revealed SLN positivity to be associated with AJCC tumor classification (P = .02), location on the trunk (P = .03), and presence of ulceration (P = .03). By multivariate logistic regression, ulceration (P = .01) was predictive of SLN positivity, whereas SLN status (P< .001), ulceration (P = .02), and location (P = .03) were predictive of recurrent disease. CONCLUSION: Data from the past 8 years confirm the accuracy and prognostic value of SLNB in cutaneous melanoma and the low rate of regional nodal recurrence for SLN-negative patients.
Adolescent↗
Primary dermal melanoma: a distinct subtype of melanoma.
BACKGROUND: The term primary dermal melanoma has been used to describe a subtype of melanoma confined to the dermis and/or subcutaneous fat that histologically simulates metastasis but is associated with an unexpectedly prolonged survival. We report 7 cases of primary dermal melanoma diagnosed from 1998 to 2002 with no identifiable junctional or epidermal component or nevoid precursor. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were compared with known cases of cutaneous metastasis and nodular melanoma in an attempt to differentiate this entity from clinical and pathologic mimics. OBSERVATIONS: Seven patients had a single dermal and/or subcutaneous focus of melanoma. Metastatic staging workup findings were negative, including results from sentinel node and imaging studies. Mean Breslow depth was 7.0 mm, and mean maximum tumor diameter was 6.2 mm. The study cohort showed 100% survival at mean follow-up of 41 months (range, 10-64 months). Immunohistochemical analysis with S100, HMB-45, Ki-67, CD34, and p75 antibodies showed no significant staining patterns compared with metastatic and nodular melanomas. CONCLUSIONS: Primary dermal melanoma appears to be a distinct subtype of melanoma based on the excellent prognosis associated with this case series and others. Additional research focusing on cause, appropriate staging, and outcome of previously identified solitary dermal metastasis is warranted to further delineate this entity.
Adult↗
Positron emission tomography is superior to computed tomography for metastatic detection in melanoma patients.
BACKGROUND: Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) provides diagnostic information not currently available with traditional imaging and may improve the accuracy of staging melanoma patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort review was performed of 104 patients with primary or recurrent melanoma who underwent PET to determine sensitivity/specificity for metastatic detection compared with body computed tomography (CT). One hundred fifty-seven PET and 70 CT scans were analyzed, with a median patient follow-up of 24 months. Metastases were confirmed with positive histology (87.5%) or documented disease progression (12.5%). Fifty-three patients prospectively underwent consecutive studies within a mean 3-week interval for direct comparative analysis. RESULTS: PET demonstrated 84% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI],.78 to.89) and 97% specificity (95% CI,.91 to.99), whereas CT showed 58% sensitivity (95% CI,.49 to.66) and 70% specificity (95% CI,.51 to.84). Exclusion of areas not evaluated on CT (head, neck/supraclavicular, extremities) increased CT sensitivity to 69% (95% CI,.59 to.77). Sixty-six consecutive PET and CT scans were performed with 81% and 57% of metastases detected, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PET is more sensitive and specific than CT for detection of melanoma metastasis and should be considered the primary staging study for recurrent disease. PET shows greater ability to detect soft tissue, small-bowel, and lymph node metastasis that do not meet criteria designated as abnormal by CT. PET is superior to CT even when sites not routinely evaluated by CT are excluded from comparative analysis.
Adult↗