Original Articles IMPACT OF INGUINAL SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY (SLNB) ON LONG TERM SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH LOWER EXTREMITY MALIGNANT MELANOMA: A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Background:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely accepted as the standard of care for correct lymphatic basin staging for patients with clinically localized malignant melanoma. Herein, our experience of determining the impact of inguinal SLNB on node-negative, primary cutaneous melanoma of lower extremity in terms of long-term survival will be presented.

Methods:
In this study, we retrospectively reviewed data of patients having lower extremity melanoma with Breslow thickness < 4 mm, who underwent inguinal SLNB (ISLNB) from January 2013 to January 2015 with follow up till January 2020, retrieved from hospital database software (EX-07-02-19-01). We collected demographic, primary disease data, surgery data, histological data, and outcome data during a 5-year follow-up.

Results:
Of the 22 patients who underwent SLNB from 2013 to 2015, 13 (59.1%) patients had positive inguinal SLNB. The mean age of patients was 40 years, with more chances of positive SLNB (8 out of 13) in patients of age ≤ 45 (p value 0.019). Mean ±SD tumor Breslow thickness was 2.57 ± 0.86 (p value 0.0034). The mean follow-up period after surgery was 72.3 months (6.02 years). The mean ±SD number of days of hospital admission at the time of surgery was 3.7 ± 1.2 days (p value 0.037). The total number of OPD visits during the first year follow up were less in Inguinal SLNB negative patients (p value 0.097).

Conclusion:
SLNB can be used as a routine procedure in node-negative malignant melanoma of the lower extremity for better survival and quality of life with fewer complications.