Factors predicting the risk of in-transit recurrence after sentinel lymphonodectomy in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
BACKGROUND
In-transit metastasis is an important morbidity factor after sentinel lymphonodectomy (SLNE). So far, factors posing an increased risk after SLNE have not been adequately analyzed.


METHODS
Using Kaplan-Meier estimations and the Cox proportional hazards model, we analyzed the risk of developing in-transit metastases after SLNE for 328 consecutive patients (median tumor thickness, 2.0 mm; median follow-up period, 40 months).


RESULTS
The 5-year probability of developing in-transit metastases as a first recurrence was 11.2%. After negative and positive SLNE, the probabilities were 6.3% and 24%, respectively. Patients in whom satellite metastases were excised concurrently with the primary tumor had a probability of recurrence with in-transit metastases of 41%. In sentinel lymph node (SLN)-negative patients with primary tumors having a thickness of more than 4 mm, the probability was 22.1%. Among the group of SLN-positive patients, significantly increased in-transit probabilities were observed in those with primary tumors that were thicker than 4 mm (41.8%), with tumors located on the distal extremities (42.1%), and with penetration of the nodal metastasis of >1 mm into the SLN (36%) and in patients with capsular breakthrough (63.3%). By using multifactorial analysis, the SLN status (P = .005), Breslow thickness (P = .0009), and extremity location of the primary melanoma (P = .005) significantly predicted the risk of in-transit recurrence. Satellite metastasis (P < .089), Clark level, and ulceration did not reach significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Subgroups of patients can be identified who seem to have an increased risk of developing in-transit metastases as a first recurrence after SLNE. Individualized therapeutic strategies should be developed for these patients.
Kretschmer
Lutz
L
Department of Dermatology, Georg-August-University Göttingen, v. Siebold-Str. 3, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany. lkre@med.uni-goettingen.de
Beckmann
Iris
I
Thoms
Kai-Martin
KM
Mitteldorf
Christina
C
Bertsch
Hans Peter
HP
Neumann
Christine
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric