Sentinel-lymph-node biopsy for cutaneous melanoma.

Results: Positive SLNs were detected in 39 (15%) of 260 cases, including 0 (0%) of 45 for cutaneous melanomas 1.0 mm thick or less (T1), 21 (18%) of 115 for melanomas 1.01 to 2.0 mm thick (T2), 12 (19%) of 64 for melanomas 2.01 to 4.0 mm thick (T3), and 5 (16%) of 32 for melanomas thicker than 4.0 mm (T4). Median Breslow depths were 1.89 mm for SLN-positive biopsy specimens and 1.50 mm for SLN-negative biopsy specimens (P= .07). The recurrence rate was 46% among SLNpositive patients, with a median time to recurrence of 8 months. Bivariate analysis revealed SLN positivity to be associated with AJCC tumor classification (P=.02), location on the trunk (P=.03), and presence of ulceration (P=.03). By multivariate logistic regression, ulceration (P=.01) was predictive of SLN positivity, whereas SLN status (P .001), ulceration (P=.02), and location (P=.03) were predictive of recurrent disease.