Prognostic value of the number of biopsied sentinel lymph nodes for
Chinese patients with melanoma: A single-center retrospective study
Abstract
Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) helps to
determine accurate pathological stages and facilitates strategies for
regional disease control in melanoma. However, whether the number of
biopsied sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) influences the patients’ survival
is rarely investigated. Methods: Acral or cutaneous melanoma
patients with no history of nodal disease who received SLNB in Fudan
University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) from January 1, 2017, to
December 31, 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinicopathological
variables including Breslow index, ulceration, number of positive SLNs,
SLN/non-SLN status were analyzed. Pathologic nodal (pN) stage and
pathological stage were defined. Results: A total of 381
eligible patients were enrolled, of whom 132 (34.7%) patients were
diagnosed with SLN-positive. The median number of biopsied SLNs was 2
(range: 1 to 20). Different numbers of biopsied SLNs did not influence
the release-free survival (RFS) of the general patients. However,
patients with > 2 SLNs had a longer RFS than those with 1-2
SLNs in T4, N1a group and those who rejected complete lymph node
dissection (CLND). Conclusions: In patients with T4 melanomas,
N1a melanomas and those that did not undergo a CLND, the prognosis of
those with 3 or more SLNs retrieved seemed to be improved.