Journal of Medical Sciences1682-44741812-5727Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jms.2007.855.859RamadanMedhat Mohammad AlazoonyHamed Ahmad Abo-AlyaziedMahmoud AlbebdarySaeed Hosny 5200775A total of 23 patients who underwent elective lymph node dissection for malignant melanoma were included in this study to evaluate the role of elective lymph node dissection in the management of malignant melanoma with clinically negative lymph nodes and there predictive value in prognosis of the disease. Seven patients has tumor thickness < 0.75 mm, 6 patients has tumor thickness > 0.75 mm but less than 1 mm, 10 patients has tumor thickness 1-4.6 mm. The excision margin was based on preoperative clinical assessment of tumor thickness and histological type. Histological status of lymph nodes was 6 (26%) positive and 17 (74%) negative and number of excised lymph nodes ranging between 5-14 mean 8 and number of positive lymph nodes were ranging between 2-7 mean 5 lymph node metastases correlate with thickness of the primary tumor, whereas lesions < 0.75 mm shows no lymph node metastases, while lymphatic invasion occur in patients with thick tumor > 0.75 mm. Also lymph node metastases correlate with local recurrence whereas 75% of patients with local recurrence has positive lymph nodes. Moreover lymphatic metastases correlate also with regional recurrence where 33% of regional recurrence occur in positive lymph nodes. From this study we conclude that elective lymph node dissection can predict local and regional recurrence in patients with clinically negative lymph node.]]>Balch, C.M., N. Cascinelli, G.W. Milton and F.H. Sim,19851985pp: 131-157pp: 131-157Balch, C.M.,19886163172Boasberg, L.P., D. Reintgen, C. Cruse and E. Berman et al.,2003220759767Buzaid, A.C., M.I. Ross, C.M. Balch, S. Soong and W.H. McCarthy et al.,19971510391051Cruz, K., F.B. Geara and K.K. Ang et al.,2003124127130Kane, W.J., P. Yugueros, R.P. Clay and J.E. Woods,199719457465Lawton, G.P. and S. Ariyan,200027431440Leiter, U., P.G. Buettner, T.K. Eigentler and C.L. Garbe,20042236603667Medina, J.E. and V. Canfield,19961996pp: 160-183pp: 160-183Morton, D.L.,199766267269Myers, J.N.,1999125110117Orr, D.J.A., L.E. Hughes and K. Horgan,1993809981000Philippe, S., B. Marion and B. Alian et al.,2005141183189Reeves, M.E. and DG. Coit,200080581601Scott, R.N. and A.J. McKay,199380284288White, R.R., W.E. Stanley, J.L. Johnson, D.S. Tyler and HF. Seigler,2002235879887