ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2020
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for T1b Melanoma: Balancing Prognostic Value and Cost.
Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Predictive Values of Pathological and Clinical Risk Factors for Positivity of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Thin Melanoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in oncology · 2022Pooled it
- Histopathological Subtypes of Cutaneous Melanoma: Prognostic and Molecular Implications.Cureus · 2025Review
- A prospective, multicenter analysis of the integrated 31-gene expression profile test for sentinel lymph node biopsy (i31-GEP for SLNB) test demonstrates reduced number of unnecessary SLNBs in patients with cutaneous melanoma.World journal of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- The Importance of Immunohistochemistry in the Evaluation of Tumor Depth of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Use and Costs of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Non-Ulcerated T1b Melanoma: Analysis of a Population-Based Registry.Annals of surgical oncology · 2021Article
- Identifying High-Risk Tumors within AJCC Stage IB-III Melanomas Using a Seven-Marker Immunohistochemical Signature.Cancers · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe purpose of this study is to report the additional prognostic information and cost associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with T1b melanoma. PATIENTS AND
methodsAn institutional database was queried for patients with T1b melanoma (0.8-1.0 mm or < 0.8 mm with ulceration) with at least 5 years of follow-up. Results of SLNB, completion lymphadenectomy (CLND), recurrence, and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were assessed. Institutional costs of melanoma care were converted to Medicare proportional dollars. A Markov model was created to estimate long-term costs.
resultsAmong the total 392 patients, 238 underwent SLNB. Median follow-up was 10.5 years. SLNB was positive in 19 patients (8.0%). Patients who underwent SLNB had higher 10-year nodal recurrence-free survival (98.6% vs. 91.2%, p < 0.001) but not MSS (94.4% vs. 93.2%, p = 0.55). Ulceration (HR 4.7, p = 0.022) and positive sentinel node (HR 11.5, p < 0.001) were associated with worse MSS. Estimates for 5-year costs reflect a fourfold increase in total costs of care associated with SLNB. However, a treatment plan that forgoes adjuvant therapy for resected stage IIIA melanoma but offers systemic therapy for a node-basin recurrence would nullify the additional cost of SLNB.
conclusionsSLNB is prognostic for T1b melanoma. Its impact on the overall cost of melanoma care is intimately tied to systemic therapy in the adjuvant and recurrent settings.
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