Prognostic value of micrometastasis detection in melanoma patients submitted to sentinel node biopsy

Abstract

Sentinel node biopsy is an important tool in melanoma patients staging, since the found of micrometasis leads to lymphatic disease in this population. Nevertheless, other issues such as size, distribution and localization of this metastasis still haven't been incorporated in the management of these cases. Objectives: To evaluate the importance of micrometasis and associated issues as prognostic factors in melanoma patients. Material and methods: Retrospective analyses from melanoma patients submitted to sentinela node biopsy in de Skin Cancer & Dermathology Department from Hospital AC Camargo between 2000 and 2010. Data from primary tumor, sentinela node and clinical follow-up of these patients will be colected for posterior statistical analyses. The pathological characteristics regarding sentinel node will be revisited and micrometasis will be mensured in Aperio for higher precision results. Positive sentinel nodes data will be correlated to the clinical follow-up of these patients, specially regarding complementary therapeutics such as regional lymphadenectomy; overall and disease free survival. Results: We intend to evaluate the maintenance o four current guidelines, which consists in regional lymphadenectomy for all patients who have positive sentinel node; as well as to discover the most relevant factors in the decision process. (AU)