Sentinel Node Biopsy for Conjunctival Melanoma; Single Centre Experience and Review of Current Literature

To evaluate the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in patients with conjuctival melanoma (CjM).

Retrospective observational cohort study and literature review.

Slovenian patients with CjM are included in the study.

Prospectively collected data of CjM patients treated from June 2005 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.

The numbers of SLN biopsy procedures, positive and false positive SLN, and local and regional relapses have been described together with overall survival.

From June 2005 until December 2016, 24 patients with CjM were treated. The median follow-up time was 65.3 months. The mean Breslow thickness was 1.5 mm (sd = 1.8 mm), and ulceration was present in 29% of cases. Altogether, 14/24 (58%) SLN biopsy procedures were performed. SLN was positive in 2/14 (14%) cases. The estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) of the group was 72.5%, with a median survival of 151 months (95% CI 77-224). From January 2013 to January 2020, five (5/140, 3%) authors reported results comparable to our study.

Our results confirm that CjM is a rare disease with approximately 14% of positive SLN. At the moment, there are no firm conclusions regarding who would benefit most from SLN biopsy or whether or not CLND should be offered. Data from literature emphasize the need for consistent and uniform staging and future multicentric studies.