Minimally Invasive Groin Dissection for Melanoma

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.