The analysis of the outcomes and factors related to iliac–obturator involvement in cutaneous melanoma patients after lymph node dissection due to positive sentinel lymph node biopsy or clinically detected inguinal metastases

• Published in: European journal of surgical oncology Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 304 - 310
• Main Authors: Zdzienicki, M, Rutkowski, P, Nowecki, Z.I, van Akkooi, A.C.J, Michej, W, Dziewirski, W, Świtaj, T, Pieńkowski, A, Sałamacha, M, Bylina, E, Eggermont, A.M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Iliac; Inguinal; Inguinal Canal - pathology; Inguinal Canal - surgery; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lymph node dissection; Lymph Node Excision; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymph Nodes - surgery; Lymphatic Metastasis - diagnosis; Male; Melanoma; Melanoma - mortality; Melanoma - secondary; Melanoma - surgery; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Neoplasm Staging; Poland - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sentinel node biopsy; Skin Neoplasms - mortality; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Tumour burden; Poland; Inguinal; Lymph node dissection; Tumour burden; Sentinel node biopsy; Melanoma; Iliac
• ISSN: 0748-7983; 1532-2157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2012.12.014

Abstract Background We assessed clinical–pathological features and outcomes of cutaneous melanoma patients after ilio-inguinal lymph node dissection (LND) in relation to the presence of metastases in iliac–obturator nodes. Methods We analyzed 390 consecutive patients who underwent ilio-inguinal therapeutic LND [TLND] (237) due to clinical/cytologically detected metastases or after completion LND [CLND] (153) due to positive SLN biopsy (in one cancer centre 1994–2009). Median follow-up time was 60 months. Results The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 49% and median OS – 52 months in the entire group of patients. According to univariate analysis following factors had significant negative influence on OS: presence of metastases to iliac–obturator nodes (5-year OS for positive versus negative: 54.5% and 32%, respectively), macrometastases, higher Breslow thickness, ulceration, higher Clark level, male gender, number of metastatic lymph nodes, extracapsular extension, and, additionally in the CLND group – micrometastases size ≥0.1 mm according to the Rotterdam criteria and non-subcapsular location of micrometastases. Iliac–obturator involvement was also negative factor for OS in multivariate analysis. The presence of iliac–obturator nodal metastases correlated with the following factors: type of LND–CLND versus TLND (15% versus 27.5%) of iliac–obturator involvement, respectively), higher Breslow thickness, extracapsular extension of nodal metastases, male gender. We have not identified any metastases in iliac–obturator nodes in group of patients with micrometastases size ≤1.0 mm and primary tumour Breslow thickness <4.0 mm or no ulcerated primary tumours. Conclusions Metastases to iliac–obturator nodes have additional negative prognostic value for melanoma patients with inguinal basin involvement. We are able to identify the subgroup of patients after positive SLN biopsy without metastases to iliac–obturator nodes, probably requiring only inguinal LND.