The prevalence of distant metastasis on initial imaging after negative or non-localizing sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with T3 or greater melanoma
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.For advanced melanoma (T3+), a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) does not rule out distant metastases (DMs). Imaging alongside SLNB may improve early detection and treatment initiation for these patients.
Area Of Science
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Medical Imaging
Background
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard for staging T3 or greater melanoma.
- The adequacy of a negative SLNB to exclude distant metastases (DMs) without imaging is uncertain.
- Current imaging guidelines for these melanoma cases are ambiguous.
Purpose Of The Study
- To compare the prevalence of DMs detected by imaging in T3+ melanoma patients, stratified by SLNB results.
- To investigate the impact of delayed imaging on treatment initiation time in this patient group.
Main Methods
- Retrospective study of 140 patients with T3+ melanoma (2009-2022).
- Collected diagnostic data, primary tumor characteristics, and demographics.
- Used Fisher's exact test for DM prevalence comparison and student's t-test for time-to-treatment analysis.
Main Results
- Distant metastases prevalence was similar between negative/non-localizing SLNB (12.12%) and positive SLNB (12%) groups (p=1).
- No significant difference in time to treatment initiation for patients with negative/non-localizing SLNB, whether imaging preceded (56 days) or followed (86 days) SLNB (p=0.2317).
Conclusions
- The prevalence of DMs is comparable regardless of SLNB status in T3+ melanoma.
- Patients with T3+ melanoma may benefit from comprehensive imaging concurrent with SLNB.
- Integrated imaging and SLNB can potentially prevent delays in DM detection and treatment initiation.
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