In a nutshell
This study investigated the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the prognosis of patients with thicker (more than 4 mm deep) melanoma. Researchers suggested that SLNB provides important prognostic information for patients with melanoma.
Some background
Melanoma thickness is a factor that predicts the presence of lymph node metastasis. SLNB is a procedure used to detect lymph node metastasis (spread of disease) in melanoma patients. However, the role of SLNB in patients with thick melanomas remains unclear. It is not known whether all patients with thicker melanomas should undergo SLNB.
Methods & findings
This study included information on 217 patients with melanomas more than 4 mm deep who underwent SLNB.
Of these, 36% had a positive SLNB. The 5-year overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) was 45%, compared to 68% for negative SLNB.
Patients with a positive SLNB and/or satellitosis (small tumors around the main tumor) were more than twice as likely to have a worse overall survival.
The bottom line
This study determined that SLNB is an important prognostic factor for patients with thicker melanomas.
Published By :
Annals of Surgical Oncology
Date :
Oct 15, 2015
