Long-term follow-up reveals that ulceration and sentinel lymph node status are the strongest predictors for survival in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma

Purpose: To assess the long-term outcome after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in melanoma patients. Methods: Between 1995-2009 450 melanoma patients underwent SLNB in a single center. Survival and prognostic factors were analyzed for 429 patients. Results: Median age was 53 (range 11-84) years. Median Breslow thickness was 2.4 (range 1-20) mm and 36% were ulcerated melanomas. Median follow-up time was 64.8 (range 2-174) months. A tumor-positive SLN was present in 140 patients (31%). Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) was performed in 119 patients and these patients were analyzed for recurrence and survival. 124 Patients (29%) relapsed during follow-up; 55 in the node-positive group who underwent CLND (55/119; 46%) and 69 in the node-negative group (69/310; 22%; p <0.001). In the node-negative group 17 patients developed recurrence in the regional node field; false-negative rate 11%. On multivariate analysis strongest prognostic factors for disease free survival (DFS) were primary melanoma ulceration and SLN positivity (Hazard Ratio (HR) of 2.2 and 2.3; p <0.001). For disease specific survival (DSS) the same wit's found to be true with an HR of 2.1 for ulceration and 2.0 for SLN positivity (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002 respectively). 10-Year DFS was 71% for node-negative patients compared with 48% for node-positive patients (p <0.001). 10-Year DSS was 77% for node-negative patients compared to 60% for node-positive patients (p