Clinico-pathological features of patients with melanoma and positive sentinel lymph node biopsy: a single institution experience.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an established method for the assessment of tumor aggressiveness in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM). To improve the criteria for the selection of SLNB candidates, the aim of our study was to determine clinico-pathohistological parameters that can serve as predictors of metastatic progression. We retrospectively evaluated all available clinico-pathohistological parameters in 844 patients with PCM diagnosed between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2010. SLNB was conducted in 484 (57.3%) patients, 122 (14.5%) of whom had a positive node. The association between predictors and SLNB outcomes (positive SLNB and metastatic development) was tested using logistic regression analysis. The main predictors of positive SLNB were Breslow thickness (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=1.22; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.11-1.33), Clark levels (AOR=1.78; 95% CI=1.31-2.40), ulceration (AOR=3.1; 95% CI=1.65-5.81), microsatellitosis, gender, and tumor localization. The predictors of metastatic spread were Breslow thickness (AOR=1,69; 95% CI=1.51-1.89), Clark level (AOR=3.59; 95% CI=2.79-4.62), nodular type of melanoma (AOR=8.21; 95% CI=1.70-39.53), ulceration, mitotic rate, microsatellitosis, gender, and tumor localization. It seems that these parameters should be taken into consideration when selecting patients for SLNB since tumor thickness is not a sufficient predictor of SLNB outcome, particularly in case of very thin lesions.