Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in determination of extent of surgery for cutaneous melanoma

Introduction. Cutaneous melanoma is a malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin developing from melanocytes (pigment cells) of the skin. It is characterized by aggressive growth, high risk of metastasis and progression.

Aim. Retrospective study of outcomes of surgical treatment of cutaneous melanoma with biopsy of the sentinel lymph node and subsequent intervention on regional lymph nodes/observation and evaluation of risk factors of disease progression.

 Materials and methods. Retrospective cohort study was performed at the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary. The study included patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent surgical treatment with biopsy of the sentinel lymph node.

 Results. Risk factors for disease progression were analyzed, and the unfavorable prognostic value of the thickness  and presence of ulceration of the primary tumor, the presence of melanoma metastases in the sentinel lymph node,  as well as the age of patients and the driver mutation of the tumor were demonstrated. Lymphadenectomy performed after a biopsy of the signaling lymph node and the localization of the tumor had no effect on the disease outcome.

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