Prognosis in Patients With Sentinel Node–Positive Melanoma Is Accurately Defined by the Combined Rotterdam Tumor Load and Dewar Topography Criteria

Purpose Prognosis in patients with sentinel node (SN) –positive melanoma correlates with several characteristics of the metastases in the SN such as size and site. These factors reflect biologic behavior and may separate out patients who may or may not need additional locoregional and/or systemic therapy. Patients and Methods Between 1993 and 2008, 1,080 patients (509 women and 571 men) were diagnosed with tumor burden in the SN in nine European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) melanoma group centers. In total, 1,009 patients (93%) underwent completion lymph node dissection (CLND). Median Breslow thickness was 3.00 mm. The median follow-up time was 37 months. Tumor load and tumor site were reclassified in all nodes by the Rotterdam criteria for size and in 88% by the Dewar criteria for topography. Results Patients with submicrometastases (< 0.1 mm in diameter) were shown to have an estimated 5-year overall survival rate of 91% and a low nonsentinel node (NSN) positivity rate of 9%...