Sentinel lymph node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma in a real life setting: analysis of 47 cases treated at a private clinic in Brazil

Abstract

Background: Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) status has been shown to be the strongest independent prognostic factor of cutaneous melanoma (CM) stage I-II patients. Few papers on CM at private clinics (PC) are available. Objective: To present clinical and histologic data, complications and frequency of SLN involvement in CM patients diagnosed and followed at a dermatology/cutaneous oncology PC in São Paulo/Brazil, who were submitted to SLNB. Methods: Retrospective, single-center cohort of patients who attended PC from June 1998 to Jan 2020. Electronic files were selected and analyzed. Minimum period for considering the patient eligible was 1 year. Results: 215 CM lesions were identified in 184 patients(1.2 melanoma/patient). Forty-seven patients (25.5%) were submitted to SLNB and 59 SLN for histologic examination (1.2 SLN/patient). 10,9% tested positive. SLN identification happened in 95.7%. In 38/47 (80,8%) patients single LBD was found, while multiple-LBD was found in 9/47(19.1%). Eighteen(72,0%) out of 25 trunk lesions drained to single basin, while in 7 patients multiple LBD was found. Complication rate was 6,0%. Conclusions: Percentage of CM patients that undergo SLNB, node positivity for metastasis, draining basins and complications in this study were similar to studies in northern hemisphere patients. Clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of CM patients differ markedly between PC and PHS patients.

Keywords

• biopsy
• melanoma
• sentinel lymph node