Ugur Uslu1, Gerold Schuler2, Helmut Breuninger3. 1. Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany ugur.uslu@uk-erlangen.de. 2. Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany. 3. Department of Dermatology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Histological parameters as well as the status of sentinel lymph node are known to be strong prognostic factors in patients with melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 1,384 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck melanoma between 1976 and 2010 regarding prognostic factors [tumor thickness, level of invasion, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, ulceration, histological subtype, localization, and gender], overall survival, and disease-free survival. RESULTS: Patients who developed metastases had a significantly thicker tumor than patients without metastases. Additionally, a thicker tumor was often associated with a higher level of invasion (Clark level). There was no overall survival benefit in patients who underwent SLN dissection when compared to patients who did not (p=0.07). Compared to SLN-negative patients, patients with SLN involvement had a significantly shorter disease-free period (p<0.001) and shorter overall survival time (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, tumor thickness is the most important prognostic factor. SLN dissection does not affect the overall survival of patients with melanoma. However, a positive SLN is a marker for a worse outcome in these patients. Copyright
BACKGROUND: Histological parameters as well as the status of sentinel lymph node are known to be strong prognostic factors in patients with melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 1,384 patients who were diagnosed with head and neck melanoma between 1976 and 2010 regarding prognostic factors [tumor thickness, level of invasion, sentinel lymph node (SLN) status, ulceration, histological subtype, localization, and gender], overall survival, and disease-free survival. RESULTS:Patients who developed metastases had a significantly thicker tumor than patients without metastases. Additionally, a thicker tumor was often associated with a higher level of invasion (Clark level). There was no overall survival benefit in patients who underwent SLN dissection when compared to patients who did not (p=0.07). Compared to SLN-negative patients, patients with SLN involvement had a significantly shorter disease-free period (p<0.001) and shorter overall survival time (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, tumor thickness is the most important prognostic factor. SLN dissection does not affect the overall survival of patients with melanoma. However, a positive SLN is a marker for a worse outcome in these patients. Copyright