Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Use Among Melanoma Patients 75 Years of Age and Older

While SLN biopsy is recommended for melanoma ≥1 mm in depth, its use among the elderly population is more controversial. We reviewed our experience at the University of Michigan with melanoma patients ≥75 years of age.

A total of 952 melanoma patients ≥75 years of age from 1996 to 2011 were identified from our institutional review board-approved database. In addition to clinicopathologic features and outcome data, comorbidity data were collected to calculate the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to characterize predictors of outcome. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to generate survival curves.

Among 553 clinically node-negative patients with melanoma ≥1 mm in Breslow thickness, 213 had wide excision alone, whereas 340 had excision and SLN biopsy, with 83 (24 %) having a positive SLN. SLN biopsy was less likely with older age (p < 0.0001) and H&N location (p = 0.007), but not CCI. SLN involvement was associated with female gender [odds ratio (OR) 2.15, p = 0.009], Breslow thickness [OR 1.23/mm increase, p = 0.004], and satellitosis (OR 4.43, p = 0.004). Distant disease-specific survival was negatively associated with male gender (OR 1.5, p = 0.007), increasing age (OR 1.05/year, p < 0.001), increasing Breslow thickness (OR 1.07/year, p = 0.013), ulceration (OR 1.51, p = 0.004), a positive SLN (OR 2.61, p < 0.001), and not having a SLN biopsy (OR 1.72, p < 0.001). CCI did not predict worse disease-free or melanoma-specific survival.

WLE and SLN biopsy was not only strongly prognostic, but compared with WLE alone was associated with improved outcome, even after factoring for age and comorbidities. If otherwise healthy, SLN biopsy should be strongly considered for this population.