Table 1.
Characteristics and Univariate Analysis of 520 Patents With Melanoma Who Underwent an SLNB Without Evidence of Metastatic Disease Between 1996 and 2008a
| Patients, No. (%) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Negative SLNB Result (N = 520) |
No Recurrence (n = 437) |
Recurrence (n = 83) |
Univariate P Value |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 49.7 | 48.6 (14.2) | 56.8 (12.5) | <.001b |
| Male sex | 294 (56.5) | 231 (52.9) | 63 (75.9) | <.001c |
| Follow-up, median (range), mo | 61 | 62 (0-154) | 53 (4-152) | |
| Breslow thickness, mm | ||||
| Mean (range) | 1.9 (0.3-22.0) | 1.8 (0.5-22.0) | 2.7 (0.3-14.0) | <.01b |
| Median | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.0 | <.001d |
| Left side of body | 256 (49.2) | 216 (49.4) | 40 (48.2) | .60c |
| Ulceration | 86 (16.5) | 59 (13.5) | 27 (32.5) | <.001c |
| Mitoses | 136 (26.2) | 112 (25.6) | 24 (28.9) | .40c |
| Lymphovascular invasion | 19 (3.7) | 16 (3.7) | 3 (3.6) | .99e |
| Regression | 15 (2.9) | 14 (3.2) | 1 (1.2) | .46e |
| No. of SLNs, mean (SD) | 1.95 | 2.09 (1.38) | 1.81 (0.89) | <.05b |
| No. of Non-SLNs, mean (SD) | 0.47 | 0.54 (1.36) | 0.41 (1.09) | |
| Type of melanoma | ||||
| Superficial spreading | 190 (36.5) | 167 (38.2) | 23 (27.7) | |
| Nodular | 68 (13.1) | 59 (13.5) | 9 (10.8) | |
| Lentiginous | 29 (5.6) | 20 (4.6) | 9 (10.8) | |
| Unknown/other | 233 (44.8) | 191 (43.7) | 42 (50.6) | |
| Location | ||||
| Head and neck | 110 (21.2) | 75 (17.2) | 35 (42.2) | <.001e |
| Trunk | 205 (39.4) | 181 (41.4) | 24 (28.9) | |
| Upper extremity | 82 (15.8) | 76 (17.4) | 6 (7.2) | |
| Lower extremity | 123 (23.7) | 105 (24.0) | 18 (21.7) | |
| Clark level | ||||
| I | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| II | 16 (3.1) | 14 (3.2) | 2 (2.4) | |
| III | 57 (11.0) | 48 (11.0) | 9 (10.8) | |
| IV | 417 (80.2) | 354 (81.0) | 63 (75.9) | |
| V | 25 (4.9) | 17(3.9) | 8 (9.6) | |
| SLNB location | ||||
| Head | 34 (6.5) | 21 (4.8) | 13 (15.7) | |
| Neck | 83 (1.6) | 60 (13.7) | 23 (27.7) | |
| Axilla | 210 (40.4) | 191 (43.7) | 19 (22.9) | |
| Groin | 150 (28.8) | 128 (29.3) | 22 (26.5) | |
| Multiple | 43 (8.3) | 37 (8.5) | 6 (7.2) | |
Abbreviations: SLN, sentinel lymph node; SLNB, SLN biopsy.
Of 515 patients, 5 (1.0%) had 2 separate lesions that were treated with additional but separate SLNBs at separate times, and both events were included in our study so that these 5 patients were counted twice for a total of 520 patients. On univariate analysis, male sex, older age at diagnosis, increasing Breslow thickness, histologic evidence of ulceration, and location in the head and neck region all demonstrated statistically significant P values of less than .05.
Determined by use of the t test.
Determined by use of the χ2 test.
Determined by use of the Wilcoxon rank sum test.
Determined by use of the Fisher exact test.