Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma: outcome after 3-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
The management of patients with cutaneous melanoma in the absence of lymph-node metastases is still controversial. The experience of the National Cancer Institute in Naples was analysed to evaluate the 3-year disease free survival and overall survival for all patients submitted to sentinel node biopsy (SNB).


METHODS
Data from 265 sentinel biopsies performed in the last five years were reviewed to determine the effect of the treatment on disease free survival and overall survival stratified the patients for node status and tumour ulceration.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis showed a 3-year survival advantage for sentinel node negative patients compared to sentinel node positive cases with a 88.4 and 72.9%, respectively (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SNB provides an accurate staging of nodal status in patients with melanoma in the absence of clinical evidence of metastases. Longer follow-up and final results from multicenter selective lymphadenectomy (MSLT) are needed to clarify the role of this procedure.
Mozzillo
N
N
National Cancer Institute, Via M Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Caracò
C
C
Chiofalo
M G
MG
Celentano
E
E
Lastoria
S
S
Botti
G
G
Ascierto
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome