Staging in thick cutaneous malignant melanoma: A sequenced approach.

Background: Patients with thick cutaneous pT4 malignant melanoma are at high risk for metastatic disease, and optimal staging is poorly defined. This study examines the frequency and modality of pre-operative staging to provoke thought on optimal staging.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients with clinical T4N0 melanoma diagnosed between 2015-2017.

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.

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.

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.