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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Does not Change Melanoma-Specific Survival Among Patients with Breslow Thickness Greater than Four Millimeters

From the National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy.

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Corrado Caracò, MD, via Orazio 31, 80122 Naples, Italy; Fax: 39-0815903239; E-mail: corrado.caraco{at}fastwebnet.it

ABSTRACT

Management of patients with cutaneous melanoma in the absence of lymph node metastases is still controversial. The experience at the National Cancer Institute in Naples was analyzed to evaluate 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival for all patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLB) with Breslow thickness greater than 4 mm. Data from 359 sentinel biopsies performed in the past 5 years were reviewed to determine the effect of the treatment on disease-free survival and overall survival after stratifying patients for node status, tumor ulceration, and Breslow thickness. Statistical analysis showed a better 3-year survival for sentinel node–negative patients than for sentinel node–positive cases (88.4% and 72.9%, respectively; P < .05). Tumor ulceration retained its prognostic significance despite lymph node status, indicating a higher risk for development of distant metastases. Survival curves associated with thicker melanomas did not show significant differences between negative- and positive-SLB patients. SLB provides accurate staging of nodal status in melanoma patients who have no clinical evidence of metastases. Longer follow-up and final results from ongoing trials are necessary to definitively clarify the role of this procedure.

Key Words: Cutaneous melanoma • Lymph node metastases • Lymphoscintigraphy • Sentinel biopsy

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