Sentinel lymph node biopsy in thick malignant melanoma: a 10-year single unit experience

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Malignant melanoma diagnosis and staging are critical for patient outcomes.
• Thick melanomas (≥4 mm Breslow thickness) present a significant clinical challenge.
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a staging procedure for melanoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of SLNB on survival and recurrence in patients with thick melanoma.
• To identify prognostic factors for disease-free and overall survival in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 195 patients with ≥4 mm Breslow thickness melanoma diagnosed between 2000-2010.
• Data collected included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, SLNB status, and survival outcomes.
• Statistical analysis to assess correlations between variables and survival endpoints.

Main Results:

• No significant correlation found between patient/tumor variables and SLNB status.
• Patients with <6 mm Breslow thickness had better 5-year disease-free and overall survival than those with >6 mm.
• SLNB positivity was associated with higher recurrence rates and lower 5-year disease-free survival, but not overall survival.

Conclusions:

• SLNB did not confer a survival benefit in thick melanoma patients in this cohort.
• SLNB is a significant predictor of recurrence-free survival.
• Breslow thickness remains a crucial prognostic factor for both disease-free and overall survival in thick melanoma.