Micrometastasis of a Sentinel Lymph Node in Cutaneous Melanoma Is a Significant Prognostic Factor for Disease-Free Survival, Distant-Metastasis-Free Survival, and Overall Survival

Abstract

The study examined patients with melanomas of all tumor thicknesses and SLNB for which the prognostic significance of SLNB was tested. Recurrences were more frequent in patients with a micrometastatic SLN. Patients with a negative SNLB are still at risk for tumor recurrence. The histopathologic result of SLNB is, after tumor thickness, the most significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival, distant-metastasis-free survival, and overall survival.