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01-07-2013 | Melanomas

Desmoplastic Melanoma: Is There a Role for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy?

Authors: Dale Han, MD, Jonathan S. Zager, MD, Daohai Yu, PhD, Xiuhua Zhao, MS, Brooke Walls, DO, Suroosh S. Marzban, MS, Nikhil G. Rao, MD, Vernon K. Sondak, MD, Jane L. Messina, MD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 7/2013

Abstract

Background

The utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is debated. We describe a large single-institution experience with SLNB for DM to determine clinicopathologic factors predictive of SLN metastasis.

Methods

Retrospective review identified 205 patients with DM who underwent SLNB from 1992 to 2010. Clinicopathologic characteristics were correlated with SLN status and outcome.

Results

Median age was 66 years, and 69 % of patients were male. Median Breslow thickness was 3.7 mm. In 128 cases (62 %), histologic subtype data was available; 61 cases (47.7 %) were mixed and 67 cases (52.3 %) were pure DM. A positive SLN was found in 28 cases (13.7 %); 24.6 % of mixed and 9 % of pure DM had SLN metastases. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that after controlling for age, histologic subtype correlated with SLN status [odds ratio: 3.0 for mixed vs pure, 95 % confidence interval: 1.1–8.7; p < .05]. Completion lymph node dissection was performed in 24 of 28 positive SLN patients with 16.7 % of cases having additional nodal disease. After a median follow-up of 6.3 years, 38 patients developed recurrence and 61 patients died. Positive SLN patients had a significantly higher risk of melanoma-related death compared with negative SLN patients (p = .01).

Conclusions

The overall risk for SLN metastasis for DM is 13.7 % and is significantly higher for mixed (24.6 %) compared with pure (9.0 %) DM. We believe that these rates are sufficient to justify consideration of SLNB for both histologic variants, especially since detection of SLN disease appears to predict a higher risk for melanoma-related death.

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Title: Desmoplastic Melanoma: Is There a Role for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy?
Authors: Dale Han, MD
Jonathan S. Zager, MD
Daohai Yu, PhD
Xiuhua Zhao, MS
Brooke Walls, DO
Suroosh S. Marzban, MS
Nikhil G. Rao, MD
Vernon K. Sondak, MD
Jane L. Messina, MD
Publication date: 01-07-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 7/2013
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-2883-z

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Desmoplastic Melanoma: Is There a Role for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy?

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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