Introduction:

It is known that the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma depends, among other factors, on the existence of lymphatic spread to lymph nodes. Sentinel node biopsy seeks to identify subclinical lymph node metastases.

Objective:

The present study aimed to analyze the association between the presence of positive sentinel lymph node, identified by Rhenium 99mTc-colloid radioisotope tracing, and the Breslow´s depth found in the primary lesion at the cutaneous level.

Methodology:

52 patients were analyzed. The sentinel lymph node was searched by the rhenium 99mTc-colloid radioisotope and subsequent biopsy of it in patients treated at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología of Mexico, between January 2015 and August 2016, with a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma and Breslow's depth greater-than or equal to 1mm or less-than 1mm and other risk criteria such as ulceration. Those patients with positive biopsy underwent lymphadenectomy. In addition, the following variables were collected: sex, age, location of the lesion, type of melanoma, Breslow's depth, and ulceration.

Results:

Mean age of the sample was 57±15 years. 63.5% of the patients were male. The most frequent histological type was superficial spreading melanoma (69.2%). 46.2% had positive sentinel lymph node. 28.8% presented Breslow >4.0 mm. A relationship was found between the presence of positive sentinel lymph node and Breslow's depth (p=0.007).

Conclusions:

As Breslow's depths increases, so does the metastasis encounter in sentinel lymphs nodes. It is recommended to carry out case-control studies to evaluate the predictive factor that may result in finding a positive sentinel lymph node.

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