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Positive SLNB in thin melanomas predicted disease progression
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A positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with thin melanomas predicted distant metastasis, disease progression and death, according to recent study results.
In a retrospective medical review, researchers recorded clinical and pathologic parameters from patients with melanomas that were less than or equal to 1.00 mm who underwent wide local excision and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) between 2001 and 2010. Recorded parameters and SLN results and outcomes were analyzed for any statistically significant relationships. One oncologist performed all SLNBs with the exception of one case.
One hundred eighty-nine medical cases matched search criteria, including three positive SLNBs (1.6%). Mean follow-up from time of SLNB was 40.7 months. Six patients (3.2%) had disease progression. Disease metastasis and death from disease was predicted by a positive SLNB (P=.0017), which also predicted overall disease progression (P=.0025). Positive SLNB result was not associated with mitotic rate.
Study limitations included a limited follow-up time, the researchers reported.
“The results of this study confirm a statistically significant relationship between a positive SLNB result and disease progression, along with distant metastasis and death in patients with thin melanomas,” the researchers concluded. “There was a trend for a relationship between mitotic rate and clinical outcome. This relationship reached statistical significance at a mitotic rate of greater than 3 mitoses/mm2.”
Disclosures: See the study for a full list of relevant disclosures.
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