Results of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with thin melanoma Journal Article
| Authors: | Wong, S. L.; Brady, M. S.; Busam, K. J.; Coit, D. G. |
| Article Title: | Results of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with thin melanoma |
| Abstract: | Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been shown to be a highly accurate method of staging nodal basins in melanoma patients. Although this technique is widely accepted in patients with intermediate-thickness tumors, it is unclear what the indications are for thin (≤1 mm) melanoma. Methods: From May 1991 to October 2004, 223 patients with thin melanoma underwent SLN biopsy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Most patients with thin melanoma were selected for the procedure because of high-risk clinicopathologic features. Results: Nodal metastases were found in eight patients (3.6%) who underwent SLN biopsy. All positive SLNs were found in patients with ≥.75 mm-thick and Clark level IV melanoma (8 of 114; 7%). Age, sex, tumor location, thickness, Clark level, ulceration, regression, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, mitotic rate, and number of mapped nodal basins were not predictive of positive SLNs (χ2; P = not significant). With a median follow-up of 25 months, there have been no recurrences or deaths in patients with melanoma < .75 mm. Six patients have had regional and/or systemic recurrences (2.7%), only one of whom had a positive SLN. Three patients have died of melanoma; all had negative SLNs. Conclusions: Nodal metastasis in thin melanoma is uncommon, especially in patients with <.75 mm and Clark level II or III melanoma. In our experience, no single clinicopathologic factor was predictive of nodal metastases. The prognostic implications of positive SLNs in thin melanoma remain undefined. © 2006 The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc. |
| Keywords: | middle aged; major clinical study; clinical feature; cancer risk; follow up; follow-up studies; sentinel node; lymphatic metastasis; neoplasm staging; sentinel lymph node biopsy; mitosis; tumor associated leukocyte; tumor localization; melanoma; metastasis; neoplasm recurrence, local; skin neoplasms; incidence; prediction; cancer center; death; predictive value of tests; regression analysis; time series analysis; ulcer; predictors; thin melanoma |
| Journal Title: | Annals of Surgical Oncology |
| Volume: | 13 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 1068-9265 |
| Publisher: | Springer |
| Date Published: | 2006-03-01 |
| Start Page: | 302 |
| End Page: | 309 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1245/aso.2006.02.021 |
| PUBMED: | 16485151 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 47" - "Export Date: 4 June 2012" - "CODEN: ASONF" - "Source: Scopus" |
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