Population-based assessment of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for melanoma plays a central role in determining prognosis and guiding treatment and surveillance strategies. Despite widely published guidelines for SLNB, variation exists in its use. We aimed to determine the frequency of and predictive factors for SLNB in patients with clinically node-negative melanoma in British Columbia. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients with clinically node-negative melanoma diagnosed between January 2015 and December 2017. Patients included had a Breslow depth greater than 0.75 mm or a Breslow depth less than or equal to 0.75 mm with ulceration, or a mitotic rate greater than or equal to 1/mm2. SLNB was considered to be indicated for clinical stages IB to IIC (American Joint Committee on Cancer's AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, seventh edition). RESULTS: A total of 759 patients were included. SLNB was performed in 54.8% (363/662) of patients when indicated. SLNB was more likely to be performed for tumours with a Breslow depth greater than 1.0 mm or a mitotic rate greater than or equal to 1/mm2. SLNB was less likely to be performed in patients older than 75 years and with a nonextremity tumour location. Compliance with SLNB guidelines decreased distant recurrence but did not significantly affect regional recurrence, nor did it have a significant impact on overall survival among patients aged 75 years and younger. CONCLUSION: SLNB is being underutilized in British Columbia. These results are concerning and highly relevant given the rapidly evolving field of adjuvant systemic therapy for high-risk patients and the increased proportion of patients who should be considered for SLNB on the basis of the eighth edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual and current guidelines. Efforts should be made to increase the use of SLNB in appropriate patients.

Proposed Quality Performance Indicators (QPI's) for axillary lymphadenectomy in metastatic cutaneous melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Axillary lymph node clearance (ALNC) continues to play a central role in the management of melanoma. However, what defines an adequate lymphadenectomy remains unclear. We aimed to propose Quality Performance Indicators (QPIs) for ALNC and to determine if the number of lymph nodes (LNs) removed impacts survival. METHODS: We reviewed patients who underwent ALNC for melanoma at the Waitemata District Health Board and Melanoma Unit between February 2005 and October 2019, performed by two surgeons with standardized technique and surveillance. RESULTS: 105 patients with stage III melanoma were included, of which 73 had clinically evident disease and 32 had clinically occult disease. The mean total number of LNs excised was 29 (SD 10.90, range 10-76). On multivariate analysis, lymph node ratio (HR 4.48, 95% CI 1.55-12.93, p = 0.006), extracapsular spread (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.06-6.05, p = 0.036) and distant recurrence (HR 11.24, 95% CI 3.79-33.31, p < 0.001) were significant predictors of mortality. The number of LNs removed did not predict survival outcomes, while the lymph node ratio did significantly predict survival outcomes. The regional recurrence rate was 3.8%. DISCUSSION: We propose that QPIs for ALNC in melanoma include a 90th percentile LN yield of greater than 15, a mean LN yield of 20, a regional recurrence rate of less than 10%, and an overall complication rate of less than 50%. CONCLUSION: The establishment of QPIs can help ensure that surgical oncology patients receive the highest quality of care.

Quality measures in cervical lymphadenectomy for cutaneous malignancy by head and neck trained general surgeons.

AIM: Therapeutic lymphadenectomy remains the gold standard for surgical management of clinically evident regional cervical disease for cutaneous malignancy. However, international consensus on adequate lymphadenectomy is lacking. Attempts have been made to establish quality measures; suggested benchmarks for minimum and average nodal yield, as well as recurrence and complication rates have been quoted. We aim to compare our key performance indicators to those benchmarks published in the literature. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study conducted with prospectively maintained data, over an 11-year period (2007-2018). RESULTS: Of 91 cervical lymphadenectomies included, mean nodal yield for ≤3 and ≥4 dissection levels were 19.7 and 38.7 respectively. We observed a combined locoregional recurrence rate of 25%. Subgroup analysis for melanoma (60) and cSCC (28) revealing regional nodal recurrence of 15% and 11%, respectively. We observed a 38.5% complication rate; however, less than 5.5% was considered grade IIIb/IIIb(d) [Clavein-Dindo]. Median follow-up of 19.3 months, five-year survivial rate of 38% and 32% for melanoma and cSCC, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that we are meeting quality measures, set by higher volume centres. We believe that any surgeon with subspecialty training in head and neck surgery can meet quality measures with regards to cervical lymphadenopathy for cutaneous malignancy.