title: Outcomes and prognostic factors in superficial spreading melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prognostic factors and risk factors for positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy results are important to identify in superficial spreading melanoma (SSM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center database and a prospective clinical trial database were reviewed for all patients with diagnoses of SSM. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and univariate and multivariate Cox models were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,643 patients with SSM were identified. Independent risk factors for positive SLN biopsy results were Breslow thickness (BT) ≥2.0 mm, age <60 years, and presence of ulceration. BT ≥2.0 mm, ulceration, lymphovascular invasion, and positive SLN and positive non-SLN biopsy results were independent risk factors for worse disease-free survival. Independent overall survival risk factors included BT ≥2.0 mm, age ≥60 years, ulceration, nonextremity tumor location, lymphovascular invasion, and positive SLN biopsy results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BT, ulceration, lymphovascular invasion, and SLN and non-SLN status are important risk factors for SSM.
authors.affiliation: Hiram C. Polk Jr MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, 550 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: Lindsay O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Stepp
authors.forename: Glenda G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Callender
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Quillo
authors.forename: Robert C G
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Scoggins
authors.forename: Arnold J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stromberg
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McMasters
mesh_terms: D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma
keywords: Lymphovascular invasion; Melanoma histology; Melanoma prognosis; Nonsentinel lymph node melanoma; Sentinel lymph node biopsy melanoma; Superficial spreading melanoma