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Influence of sentinel lymph node biopsy on the prognosis of acral melanoma patients

  • 0Liga Bahiana Contra o Câncer, Hospital Aristides Maltez, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericordia da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia +

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June 24, 2025

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June 24, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is crucial for acral melanoma (AM) staging. Positive SLN results in significantly worse disease-free survival, highlighting its prognostic value in AM patients.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background

  • Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is vital for melanoma staging, prognosis, and treatment.
  • Its role in Acral Melanoma (AM), a distinct subtype, requires further investigation.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To assess SLN biopsy outcomes in 79 AM patients.
  • To compare these findings with existing literature.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective analysis of 79 AM patients undergoing SLN biopsy (2016-2022).
  • Evaluation of epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological data.
  • Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses for Overall Survival (OS) and Disease-Free Survival (DFS).

Main Results

  • 34.2% of patients had a positive SLN.
  • While not statistically significant, OS was higher in the negative SLN group (70.9% vs. 53.2%).
  • Positive SLN was significantly associated with worse DFS (33.8% vs. 46.7%, p=0.001).

Conclusions

  • Positive SLN in AM patients indicates a poorer prognosis.
  • SLN biopsy has significant prognostic implications for acral melanoma.
  • Study limitations include its retrospective nature and small patient cohort.

Keywords: