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Completion lymphadenectomy for a positive sentinel node biopsy in melanoma patients is not associated with a survival benefit
Author(s) -
Klemen Nicholas D.,
Han Gang,
Leong Stanley P.,
KashaniSabet Mohammed,
Vetto John,
White Richard,
Schneebaum Schlomo,
Pockaj Barbara,
Mozzillo Nicola,
Charney Kim,
Hoekstra Harald,
Sondak Ver K.,
Messina Jane L.,
Zager Jonathan S.,
Han Dale
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.25444
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphadenectomy , dissection (medical) , melanoma , lymph node , sentinel lymph node , sentinel node , biopsy , surgery , radiology , cancer , breast cancer , cancer research
Background Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) disease in melanoma patients is debated. We evaluated the impact of CLND on survival and assessed for predictors of nonsentinel node metastasis (positive CLND). Methods Positive SLN melanoma patients were retrospectively identified in the Sentinel Lymph Node Working Group database. Clinicopathological factors were correlated with CLND status, overall survival (OS), and melanoma‐specific survival (MSS). Results There were 953 positive SLN patients of whom 831 (87%) had CLND. Positive CLND was seen in 141 (17%) cases and was associated with worse OS and MSS (both P < 0.001). CLND was not performed (No‐CLND) in 122 of 953 positive SLN cases (13%), of whom 100 had follow‐up and 18 (18%) developed a nodal recurrence (NR). No significant differences in OS and MSS were seen comparing CLND with No‐CLND ( P = 0.084, P = 0.161, respectively) and comparing positive CLND with No‐CLND NR patients ( P = 0.565, P = 0.998, respectively). Gender, primary site, ulceration, and number of positive SLNs were correlated with nonsentinel node metastasis. Conclusions Performance of CLND provides prognostic information but is not associated with a survival benefit. Clinical variables can predict a positive CLND in patients who may be at high risk of recurrence.