Quantification of Melanoma Micrometastases in Sentinel Lymph Nodes Using Real-Time RT-PCR  Thomas Giese, Monika Engstner, Ulrich Mansmann, Wolfgang Hartschuh, Bernhard Arden  Journal of Investigative Dermatology  Volume 124, Issue 3, Pages 633-637 (March 2005) DOI: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23633.x Copyright © 2005 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Quantification of Melan-A transcripts in comparison with histopathology. Melan-A transcripts per μL of real-time RT-PCR from sentinel lymph node (SLN) that were positive (triangles) or negative (circles) by histopathology. SLN positive by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining (n=21) are shown as open triangles, SLN that were HE negative but immunohistology positive (n=6) are shown as solid triangles. Median transcript numbers (horizontal lines) were 696 (8.2–3950) and 4.0 (2.2–7.9) transcripts per μL (lower and upper quartiles in brackets) for histopathologically positive (n=27) and negative (n=32) SLN, respectively. Melan-A transcript numbers were significantly different between the SLN groups defined by positive and negative histopathology (p<0.0001). Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2005 124, 633-637DOI: (10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23633.x) Copyright © 2005 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier disease-free survival. Probability of recurrence-free survival for patients whose sentinel lymph node (SLN) were histopathologically and real-time RT-PCR positive (Path+/PCR+), for patients with histopathologically negative SLN who were reclassified by positive PCR (Path-/PCR+), and for patients with SLN negative by both assays (Path-/PCR-). Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2005 124, 633-637DOI: (10.1111/j.0022-202X.2005.23633.x) Copyright © 2005 The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc Terms and Conditions