Sentinel lymph node status as most important prognostic factor in patients with high-risk cutaneous melanomas (tumour thickness >4.00 mm): outcome analysis from a single institution

Purpose Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is considered the most powerful prognostic indicator of survival in patients with cutaneous melanoma of intermediate thickness (1–4 mm). The use of SLNB in patients with melanoma with a tumour thickness >4.0 mm is still controversial. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prognostic value of SLNB in patients with thick cutaneous melanomas (tumour thickness >4.0 mm) in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).