Multiple Lymph Node Basin Drainage in Trunk Melanoma Is Not Associated with Survival of Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at investigating the prognostic role of multiple lymph node basin drainage (MLBD) in patients with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. BACKGROUND: MLBD is frequently observed in patients with trunk melanoma undergoing SLN. The prognostic value of MLBD in SLN-positive patients is still debated. METHODS: Retrospective data from 312 trunk melanoma patients with positive SLN biopsy (1991-2012) at 6 Italian referral centres were gathered in a multicentre database. MLBD was defined at preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Clinical and pathological data were analysed for their association with disease-free interval (DFI) and disease-specific (DSS) survival. RESULTS: MLBD was identified in 34.6% of patients (108/312) and was significantly associated with >1 positive SLN (37 vs. 15.2%; p < 0.001) and with >1 positive lymph node (LN) after complete lymph node dissection (CLND) (50.9 vs. 34.8%; p = 0.033). No differences were observed according to drainage pattern in patients who had negative and positive non-SLN at CLND. MLBD was not associated with either DFI or DSS. Multivariate analyses showed that tumour thickness, ulceration, and number of metastatic LNs were associated with worse DFI and DSS, while regression confirmed its protective role in survival. CONCLUSION: In positive SLN patients, MLBD has no association with survival, which is mainly related to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) prognostic factors. Since the overall number of positive LNs drives the prognosis, the importance of a CLND in all the positive basins is confirmed.

Prognostic Role of Multiple Lymphatic Basin Drainage in Sentinel Lymph Node-Negative Trunk Melanoma Patients: A Multicenter Study from the Italian Melanoma Intergroup.

BACKGROUND: Multiple lymphatic basin drainage (MLBD) is frequently observed in patients with trunk melanoma undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. Conflicting data regarding the prognostic association of MLBD in SLN-negative patients have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of MLBD in patients with negative SLN biopsy. METHODS: Retrospective data from 656 melanoma patients who underwent a SLN biopsy (1991-2012) at six Italian centers were gathered in a multicenter database. MLBD was defined as lymphoscintigraphic and intraoperative identification of an SLN in more than one nodal basin. Clinical and pathologic variables were recorded and analyzed for their impact on survival. RESULTS: SLN-negative patients with MLBD were at lower risk of melanoma recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) 0.73, P = 0.05) and melanoma-related death (HR 0.68, P = 0.001) independent of common staging features. Multivariable Cox analyses of disease-free interval (DFI) and disease-specific survival (DSS) showed that MLBD maintained a favorable role and ulceration an unfavorable role. Histologic regression was independently associated only with DFI. When survival was stratified according to presence of MLBD, histologic regression and Breslow thickness <2 mm were associated with improved DFI (5-year DFI: 96.9 vs. 66,1 %, respectively; HR 0.48, P < 0.001) and DSS (5-year DSS: 96.7 vs. 71.8 %, respectively; HR 0.52, P = 0.005) compared to patients without these three favorable parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with negative SLN biopsy results have better prognosis when two or more lymphatic basins are identified and analyzed. Further research is required to investigate the mechanisms behind this evidence.

Squamocellular Carcinoma of the Skin: Clinicopathological Features Predicting the Involvement of the Surgical Margins and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: The new AJCC classification has highlighted some particular risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) relevant for prognosis. Incomplete excision is not infrequent in SCC. The aim of this study is to examine features that can predict an incomplete excision on the basis of the new AJCC classification and to review the literature on this topic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 81 SCC patients were included. All patients were submitted to excisional biopsy with a margin of at least 4 mm from the clinical edges as recommended. Histological characteristics of the lesions analysed were maximum diameter, grading, site, Breslow thickness, Clark level, deep tissue invasion (neural, bone, muscle), presence of ulceration and positivity of the margins. RESULTS: The average Breslow thickness was 3.93 mm. Out of the 81 patients included, 14 showed involved margins. The 2 parameters that were implicated in predicting involvement of the margins in the multivariable model were Breslow thickness and location of the lesion on the ear or lip. Grading was not associated with involvement of margins. CONCLUSION: According to the new AJCC classification, this study could be useful to plan the most suitable surgical technique in order to avoid the risk of incomplete surgery.

Metastatic sebaceous cell carcinoma, review of the literature and use of electrochemotherapy as possible new treatment modality.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic extraorbital sebaceous carcinoma is a rare event that could involve the head and neck. The treatment of choice for the initial stage of the disease is surgery and/or radiotherapy. The treatment of recurrent or advanced disease is still controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Extensive literature search was done, and the treatment options are discussed. RESULTS: Results. The literature search found several treatment modalities in use for the treatment of metastatic extraorbital sebaceous carcinoma. Electrochemotherapy was not included in the reported treatments. We used this technique for a man of 85 years old with a recurrent and locally metastatic extraorbital sebaceous carcinoma of the scalp. During the period of 8 months, two sessions of electrochemotherapy were employed, which resulted in an objective response of the tumour and good quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Electrochemotherapy has shown to be a interesting tools for treatment of metastatic extraorbital sebaceous carcinoma when other radical options are not available or convenient.

Risk factors related to late metastases in 1,372 melanoma patients disease free more than 10 years.

In many centers, Stage I-II melanoma patients are considered "cured" after 10 years of disease-free survival and follow-up visits are interrupted. However, melanoma may relapse also later. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 1,372 Stage I-II melanoma patients who were disease-free 10 years after diagnosis. The aim of this study was to characterize patients who experienced a late recurrence and to compare them to those who remained disease-free to identify possible predictive factors. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the influence of different factors on the risk of recurrence. Seventy-seven patients out of 1,372 (5.6%) relapsed, 52 in regional sites and 25 in distant ones. The majority of patients (31 out of 52) experienced late recurrence in regional lymph nodes. Brain and lung were the most common site of single distant recurrence (24% each). Patients with multiple distant metastases showed a brain and lung involvement in, respectively, 40 and 48% of cases. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis showed the independent role of age under 40 years, Breslow thickness >2 mm, and Clark Level IV/V in increasing the risk of Late Recurrence. These patients should be followed-up for longer than 10 years. The pattern of recurrence suggests that melanoma cells can be dormant preferentially in lymph nodes, brain and lung. A particular attention should be reserved to these anatomic sites during the follow-up after 10 years of disease-free.

Melanoma arising on a scar 10 years after a burn: management and review of the literature.

We report a case of a melanoma arising after about 10 years after a burn injury. This is an uncommon example of a carcinogenetic event that could be prevented or diagnosed early. Usually, the mutagenic event clinically appears many years after the burn especially if it was not treated correctly with a careful surgical approach. The average time of latency could be found in literature as 46.5 years from the burn, whereas our case was only 10. A frequent and very long follow-up of the burn scars could represent a valid prophylactic option to avoid neoplastic proliferation if the tumor appears.

Expression of p63 is the sole independent marker of aggressiveness in localised (stage I-II) Merkel cell carcinomas.

Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin is a malignant neuroendocrine tumour, whose prognostic criteria are a matter of dispute. Specifically, no predictor is presently available in stage I-II tumours. We collected clinical and follow-up data from 70 Merkel cell carcinomas of the skin. The same cases were studied for p63 expression by immunohistochemistry, by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and TP63 gene status by FISH and for presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus by PCR. Stage emerged as a significant prognostic parameter (P=0.008). p63 expression, detected in 61% (43/70) of cases by immunohistochemistry, was associated with both decreased overall survival (P<0.0001) and disease-free survival (P<0.0001). Variable expression patterns of the different p63 isoforms were found only in cases immunoreactive for p63. In these latter lesions, at least one of the N-terminal p63 isoforms was detected and TAp63α was the most frequently expressed isoform. TP63 gene amplification was observed by FISH in only one case. Presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA sequences was detected in 86% (60/70) of Merkel cell carcinomas and did not emerge as a significant prognostic parameter. Merkel cell carcinoma cases at low stage (stage I-II) represented over half (40/70 cases, 57%) of cases, and the clinical course was uneventful in 25 of 40 cases while 15 cases died of tumour (10/40 cases) within 34 months or were alive with disease (5/40 cases) within 20 months. Interestingly, a very strict correlation was found between evolution and p63 expression (P<0.0001). The present data indicate that p63 expression is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, and in localised tumours it represents the single independent predictor of clinical evolution.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the umbilicus: management of an unusual localization.

We describe the case of a squamous cell carcinoma spreading to the skin and regional lymph nodes from the umbilicus. Bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy and a session of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin 15 mg/m2 were performed. However, because of the development of new cutaneous nodules in the abdominopelvic region, we performed targeted palliative therapy with erlotinib 150 mg/day. Targeted adjuvant therapy was preferred to the use of a major cytotoxic agent because of the high risk of superinfection and heart failure. Erlotinib produced a partial clinical response with reduction of the number and size of the skin nodules. CT scan performed after 60 days of treatment did not show any new lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an umbilical metastatic squamous cell carcinoma treated with modern targeted therapy. This therapeutic strategy can be considered a valid palliative option in the management of metastatic cutaneous nodules of this rare primary site.

Clinical considerations on sentinel node biopsy in melanoma from an Italian multicentric study on 1,313 patients (SOLISM-IMI).

BACKGROUND: Although widely used for the management of patients with cutaneous melanoma, the sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SNB) procedure raises several issues. This study was designed to investigate: the predictive factors of SLN status, the false-negative (FN) rate, and patients' prognosis after SNB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an observational, prospective study conducted on a large series of consecutive patients (n = 1,313) enrolled by 23 Italian centers from 2000 through 2002. A commonly shared protocol was adopted for the SNB surgical procedure and the SLN pathological examination. RESULTS: The SLN positive and false-negative (FN) rates were 16.9% and 14.4%, respectively (median follow-up, 4.5 years). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, the frequency of positive SLN increased with increasing Breslow thickness (p < 0.0001) and decreased in patients with melanoma regression (p = 0.024). At the multivariable Cox regression analysis, SLN status was the most important prognostic factor (hazards ratio (HR) = 3.08) for overall survival; the other statistically significant factors were sex, age, Breslow thickness, and Clark's level. Considering SLN and NSLN status, including FN cases, we identified four groups of patients with different prognoses. The 5-year overall survival of patients with positive SLNs was 71.3% in those with negative nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs) and 50.4% if NSLNs were positive. CONCLUSIONS: Regression in the primary melanoma seems to be a protective factor from metastasis in the SLN. When correctly calculated, the SNB FN rate is 15-20%. Furthermore, the SNB is important to more precisely assess the prognosis of patients with melanoma.

Efficacy and skin toxicity management with cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer: outcomes from an oncologic/dermatologic cooperation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the combination of irinotecan/cetuximab and to plan related skin toxicity management with an oncologic/dermatologic team. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer received cetuximab 400 mg/m2 as an initial dose and 250 mg/m2 weekly thereafter. In addition, patients received irinotecan 180 mg/m2 every 2 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were evaluated for response rate (RR) and skin toxicity to establish the best management. In our study, the responses observed with cetuximab treatment were complete response in 1 patient (3%), partial response in 11 patients (34%), disease stabilization in 6 patients (19%), and progressive disease in 14 patients (44%). Of 34 patients evaluable for cutaneous toxicity, 10 patients (29%) presented with grade 1 eruption, 13 (38%) with grade 2 eruption, and 4 (12%) with grade 3 eruption. Allergic reactions such as flushing and urticaria (grade 2) were seen in 2 patients (6%). CONCLUSION: Cutaneous reactions consisted of follicular rash, xerosis, painful fissures in palms and soles, alterations in hair growth, and mucositis. In the majority of patients (80%-90%), the worst recorded skin effects were mild (grade 1) to moderate (grade 2). The incidence of severe cases (grade 3) was approximately 15%. All dermatologic effects were reversible and generally without sequelae within 4 weeks after treatment discontinuation. We observed significant correlations between degree of cutaneous toxicity and increased RR. Correct identification and treatment by oncologic/dermatologic cooperation of EGFR cutaneous side effects help to improve quality of life.

Long-term survival after multidisciplinary management of a metastatic sarcomatoid porocarcinoma with repeated exeresis, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cetuximab: case report and review of literature.

Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare and aggressive skin neoplasm; only two cases of sarcomatoid differentiation have been reported. Whereas surgery is effective as first line treatment, optimal management of recurrent or metastatic porocarcinoma is not defined and needs multidisciplinary approach. Here we described the first reported case of metastatic sarcomatoid porocarcinoma. Our patient experienced multiple recurrences, mainly loco-regional, and was treated with a multidisciplinary treatment, involving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and target therapy, leading to a more than 4 years survival, from the first recurrence. We conclude that multidisciplinary approach in metastatic porocarcinoma must involve surgeon, radiotherapist and medical oncologist. The combination of local and systemic treatments can delay recurrence and prolong survival also in very aggressive cases.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous melanoma.

The management of melanoma is constantly evolving. New therapies and surgical advances have changed the landscape over the last years. Since being introduced by Dr Donald Morton, the role of sentinel lymph node has been debated. In many melanoma centers, sentinel node biopsy is not a standard of care for melanoma above 1 mm in thickness. The results of the MSLT-II Trial are not available for a while and in the meantime, this procedure is offered as a prognostic indicator as it has been shown to be very useful for assessing risk of relapse. The biology of lymph node spread in melanoma is a complex field and there are many factors which influence it such as age, melanoma body site, thickness but other factors such as regression, ulceration and gender need further evaluation. In this review, we address the clinical value of sentinel lymph node biopsy and how its indication has changed over the years especially recently with the setup of many adjuvant trials which are offered to stage 3 melanomas.

Psychological characteristics of early-stage melanoma patients: a cross-sectional study on 204 patients.

The presence of psychological distress has a negative impact not only on cancer patients' quality of life but also on the course of the disease, with slower recovery and increased morbidity. These issues are of particular importance in melanoma patients (MP), who remain at risk of disease progression for many years after diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate psychological distress, coping strategies, and their possible relationships with demographic-clinical features in patients with early-stage melanoma in follow-up. The investigation focused in particular on whether the psychological profile differed between patients at different melanoma stages. Data of 118 patients with melanoma in the Tis-Ia stages (MP_Tis-Ia) and 86 patients with melanoma in the Ib-IIa-IIb stages (MP_Ib-II) were gathered through a self-administered survey and compared using a cross-sectional design. The results evidenced a high percentage of anxiety (25%) and distress symptoms (44%), whereas depressive symptoms seemed less frequent (8%). Psychological distress was higher in women than in men, and in patients with a higher educational level. Nevertheless, no significant differences were found between MP_Tis-Ia and MP_Ib-II. With respect to coping style, the patients in this sample adopted predominantly positive and active strategies. Correlational analyses showed that maladaptive coping strategies such as behavioral disengagement, denial, self-distraction, and self-blame were most strongly related to increased levels of psychological distress. The high presence of anxiety and distress symptoms, their relationship, and the use of negative coping strategies underline the importance of psychological distress screening also in early-stage MP, including at long-term follow-up.

The impact of lymphoscintigraphy technique on the outcome of sentinel node biopsy in 1,313 patients with cutaneous melanoma: an Italian Multicentric Study (SOLISM-IMI).

UNLABELLED: An observational multicentric Italian trial on sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in melanoma patients was performed to diffuse a common SNB protocol nationwide (Italy). We report herein the results of this trial. The influence of some technical aspects on the outcome of SNB was also investigated, because a certain degree of variability was accepted in performing lymphoscintigraphy. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2002, 1,313 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma (Breslow thickness, >1.0 mm or <1.0 mm but with ulceration, Clark level IV-V, presence of regression) were enrolled by 23 centers. One half to 1 mL of 99mTc-labeled human albumin colloid, at a suggested dosage of 5-15 or 30-70 MBq, was injected intradermally, closely around the scar, the same day or the day before SNB. Intraoperatively, Patent blue was associated when a definitive wide excision of the primary was required. A positive sentinel node (SN) was defined when containing melanoma cells detected by either hematoxylin-eosin or immunohistochemistry (S100 and HMB45 antibodies). All patients underwent regular follow-up. False-negative cases were considered when lymph node metastases occurred in the same lymphatic basin of SN biopsy (SNB) during follow-up. A quality control program has been performed for the surgical procedure and for the histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The SN identification rate was 99.3%. The axilla was the site of the SN in 52.5% of the cases. The mean number of SNs was 2.0 (range, 1-17) and only 1 node was removed in 45.4%. The positivity and false-negative rates were 16.9% and 14.7%, respectively (median follow-up, 31 mo). On multivariate analysis (logistic and linear regression) only the number of peritumor injections was inversely associated with the number of excised SNs (P = 0.002), whereas none of the technical variables showed an independent impact on SN status when Breslow thickness was included as a control variable. CONCLUSION: The number of peritumor injections seems to influence the outcome of lymphoscintigrapy in melanoma patients undergoing SNB. If these results are confirmed in a controlled trial, 3 injections at least should be recommended.

Association of Histologic Regression in Primary Melanoma With Sentinel Lymph Node Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

IMPORTANCE: The prognostic significance of regression in primary melanoma has been debated for many years. There is no consensus regarding the need for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy when regression is present within the primary tumor. OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence that regression may affect SLN status. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed by searching in MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from January 1, 1990, through June 2014. STUDY SELECTION: All studies that reported an odds ratio (OR) or data on expected and observed cases of SLN positivity and histologic regression were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Primary random-effects meta-analyses were used to summarize ORs of SLN positivity and histologic regression. Heterogeneity was assessed using the χ2 test and I2 statistic. To assess the potential bias of small studies, we used funnel plots, the Begg rank correlation test, and the Egger weighted linear regression test. The methodologic quality of the studies was assessed according to the Strengthening of Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist, and 2 different meta-analyses were performed based on those criteria. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Summary ORs of histologic regression of primary melanoma and SLN status. RESULTS: Of the 1509 citations found in the search, 94 articles were reviewed, and 14 studies comprising 10 098 patients were included in the analysis. In the combined 14 studies, patients with regression had a lower likelihood to have SLN positivity (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41-0.77) than patients without regression. On the basis of study quality, we found that patients with regression enrolled in high-quality studies had a lower likelihood to have SLN positivity (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32-0.72) compared with results of low-quality studies (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.53-1.00). Examination of the funnel plot did not provide evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this analysis showed that the risk of SLN positivity was significantly lower in patients with histologic regression compared with those without. Regression may be used in these cases to make a selection of which patients should be the most appropriate for this procedure.

Sentinel lymph node dissection in stage I/II melanoma patients: surgical management and clinical follow-up study.

Selective sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection is widely used in the management of cutaneous melanoma patients without clinical evidence of nodal metastases. A series of 274 consecutive melanoma patients who underwent melanoma primary excision and SLN mapping at our institutions since 1998, and were thereafter followed up and eventually treated, is reported in this prospective study. The aim was to analyse the parameters associated with a higher risk of occult nodal metastases, to evaluate the clinical outcome of melanoma patients who underwent SLN procedure, and to identify by means of multivariate analysis the prognostic parameters with independent predictive value on disease-free survival (DFS) in node-positive and negative patients. The SLN was tumour-negative in 228 patients (83.2%). A disease progression occurred in 25 (10.9%); among them, 10 patients in whom the initially identified SLN had been negative, developed a clinically and histologically evident positive lymph node in the same basin during follow-up. Five-year DFS and overall survival were 75% and 82%, respectively. In 46 patients (16.8%), the SLN proved to be tumour positive. The percentage of SLN-positive patients varied according to the primary thickness, from 11.8% in patients with Breslow of 2 mm or lower, to 34.7% in patients with Breslow from 2 to 4 mm, up to 55.9% in patients with Breslow greater than 4 mm (P<0.001). Only two patients with Breslow thickness lower than 1 mm had positive SLN biopsy. Five-year DFS and overall survival (OS) were 42 and 69%, respectively, significantly lower than those of negative SLN-patients (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that the parameters with prognostic independent value on DFS were SLN status (micrometastases or macrometastases; P=0.0001), and to a lesser extent, Breslow thickness (P=0.04). In conclusion, our data support the clinical usefulness of SLN dissection as a reliable and accurate staging method in patients with cutaneous melanoma. SLN-positive patient OS (5-year survival 69%) seems to be superior to that historically reported for stage III patients treated with curative nodal dissection only after the clinical evidence of palpable adenopathies (5-year survival 36%). The prognostic relevance of the pattern of SLN invasion (micrometastases/macrometastases) could be the basis for the planning of adjuvant treatment trials on selected groups of patients.

Prognostic differences across sexes in melanoma patients: what has changed from the past?

Differences across the sexes include epidemiological trends, distribution of clinical features and prognostic relevance in melanoma patients. The aims of this single-institution hospital-based cohort study were as follows: to assess the trends over time of the male/female ratio; to analyse the clinicopathologic features according to sex and their modifications following the introduction in 1999 of sentinel lymph node biopsy; to ascertain the metastatic pathways across sexes and the prognostic role of sex in the disease-free interval (DFI), disease-specific survival (DSS) and survival after recurrence. The patient population included 4310 stage I-II melanoma patients, diagnosed, treated and followed up in our institution from 1975. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy in 1999. A female prevalence was observed until 1999; thereafter, the male/female ratio approached 1 (period 1999-2003), with a subsequent increasing trend suggesting a potential male prevalence. Longer DFI and DSS were observed after 1999 and men showed greater improvement compared with women. In multivariate analyses, sex showed a lower impact on DFI and survival after recurrence following the introduction on sentinel lymph node biopsy. No sex-related differences in terms of DSS were observed before and after 1999 among patients with melanoma located on the trunk. However, among patients with primary lesions not located on the trunk, sex maintained a significant prognostic role in both groups. The results of this study suggest that in the last few years, the prognosis of men could have improved more than that in women. The changing surgical/therapeutic interventions can influence sex disparities in melanoma.

Number of excised lymph nodes as a quality assurance measure for lymphadenectomy in melanoma.

IMPORTANCE: Although the number of excised lymph nodes (LNs) represents a quality assurance measure in lymphadenectomy for many solid tumors, the minimum number of LNs to be dissected has not been established for melanoma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of the number of excised LNs in a large patient series (N = 2526) to identify values that may serve as benchmarks for monitoring the quality of lymphadenectomy in patients with melanoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted (1992-2010) in tertiary referral centers for treatment of cutaneous melanoma. Medical records on 2526 patients who underwent lymphadenectomy for regional LN metastasis associated with cutaneous melanoma were examined. EXPOSURE: Patients had undergone lymphadenectomy for regional LN metastasis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The mean, median, and 10th percentile of the number of excised LNs were calculated for the axilla (3 levels), neck (≤3 or ≥4 dissected levels), inguinal, and ilioinguinal LN fields. RESULTS: After 3-level axillary (n = 1150), 3-level or less neck (n = 77), 4-level or more neck (n = 135), inguinal (n = 209), and ilioinguinal (n = 955) dissections, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) and mean (SD) number of excised LNs were as follows: 3-level axillary dissection, 20 (15-27) and 22 (8); 3-level or less neck, 21 (14-33) and 24 (15); 4-level or more neck, 29 (21-41) and 31 (14); inguinal, 11 ( 9-14) and 12 (5); and ilioinguinal, 21 (16-26) and 22 (4). A total of 90% of the patients had 12, 7, 14, 6, and 13 excised LNs (10th percentile of the distribution) after 3-level axillary, 3-level or less neck, 4-level or more neck, inguinal, and ilioinguinal dissections, respectively. More excised LNs were detected in younger (21 for those <54 years of age and 19 for ≥54 years, P < .001) and male (21 for male sex and 19 for female sex, P < .001) patients from high-volume institutions (21 for volume of ≥300 vs 18 for volume <300, P < .001) with a more recent year of diagnosis (21 for years 2002-2010 vs 18 for years 1992-2001, P < .001), LN micrometastasis vs macrometastasis (20 vs 19, P = .005), and more positive LNs (R² = 0.03, P < .001); however, the differences between median values were small. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These minimum numbers of excised LNs are reproducible across the institution, patient, and tumor factors evaluated. They can be taken into consideration when monitoring the quality of lymphadenectomy in melanoma and can represent entry criteria for randomized trials investigating adjuvant therapies.