Background: The benefits of complete lymph node dissection (CLND) in melanoma patients with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) have been recently questioned. Sentinel node (SN) tumor burden > 1 mm has been proposed as the most reliable parameter associated with positive CLND and poorer disease-free survival. Material and methods: Between June 1997 and June 2017, data from 119 melanoma patients with positive SLNB were analyzed. Patients were classified by SN burden in two groups: ≤ 1 mm and > 1 mm. Results: CLND was positive in 6 (10%) patients with SN tumor burden ≤ 1 mm and in 23 (37.7%) patients with > 1 mm (p < 0.001). In univariable analysis, SN tumor burden was the only predictive factor of positive CLND (OR 5.24 [1.94-14.13]). In multivariable analysis, SN tumor burden was the only independent factor of melanoma-specific survival (MSS). Conclusion: Although CLND should still be considered individually in patients with positive SLNB, SN tumor burden >1 mm might be a good predictive factor of additional positive non-sentinel nodes and a strong independent prognostic factor in melanoma-specific survival.
CITATION STYLE
Avilés-Izquierdo, J. A., Mercader-Cidoncha, E., Escat-Cortés, J. L., Márquez-Rodas, I., Parra-Blanco, V., & Rodríguez-Lomba, E. (2021, August 1). When is it worth performing lymphadenectomy in patients with melanoma micrometastases? A 20-year experience retrospective analysis. Cirugia y Cirujanos (English Edition). Permanyer Publications. https://doi.org/10.24875/CIRU.20000545
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