title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma: a 6 years study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in cutaneous melanoma at our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  128 patients with primary cutaneous melanoma who underwent SLNB between April, 2004, and August, 2010 were studied. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to explore the effect of variables on mortality and sentinel node status. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive SLNB were detected in 35 (27.3%) of 128 cases. Mean Breslow depths were 3.7 mm for SLNB positive patients and 1.99 mm for SLNB negative patients. False negative rate was 1%. The recurrence rate was 40% for positive patients and 6.5% for negative patients (odds ratio 9.7 [confidence interval 95 % 3.3-28.1]). 33 patients (29%) had an ulcerated melanoma, 12 (10.5%) in the positive group and 21 (18.5%) in the negative group. The disease recurred in a 48.5% of patients with ulcerated melanoma, but only in a 2.5% of patients with non-ulcerated melanoma. Upon multivariate analysis, only Breslow thickness (P = 0.005) demonstrate statistically significance for SLNB status. Multivariate analysis for clinicopathologic predictors of death demonstrate statistically significance for Breslow thickness (P = 0.020), ulceration (P = 0.030) and sentinel node status (P = 0.020).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that the status of the sentinel node is a strong independent prognostic factor with a higher risk of death and lower survival. Patients with ulcerated melanoma are more likely to develop recurrence, and also higher risk of death than patients with non-ulcerated melanoma.
authors: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Universitary Hospital of Gran Canaria, Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Lima Sánchez
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sánchez Medina
authors: O
authors: O
authors: García Duque
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fiúza Pérez
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Carreteri Hernández
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Fernández Palácios
keywords: Melanoma; sentinel node biopsy; sentinel node dissection
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