Risk of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis

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Our melanoma sentinel lymph node metastasis nomogram is a tool designed to predict the probability that a patient’s skin melanoma has metastasized (spread) to the sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node to which cancer cells are likely to spread from the primary tumor). This tool can be used by patients with skin melanoma who have had their melanoma biopsied or surgically removed, but it is not appropriate for patients with melanoma who have already had a sentinel lymph node biopsy or who have enlarged lymph nodes in proximity to the melanoma on physical examination.

Results produced by this tool are based on data from patients treated at MSK, a large research institution with surgeons who perform a high volume of melanoma procedures. This tool was externally validated using data from a large, multi-institutional clinical trial, and was further evaluated and validated by three separate institutions (see Supporting Publications). All results must be understood in the context of each patient’s specific treatment plan. Patients and caregivers using this tool should discuss the result with the patient’s physician.

To gather the information required to use this nomogram, use our worksheet.

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All fields are required unless noted optional
years (20 to 95)
mm (0.1 to 10)
Note: If the tumor thickness is less than 0.1 mm, enter as 0.1 mm.
Note: This prediction tool applies only to Clark levels II to V.
More on Clark levels:
Clark levels refer to a system for describing how deep cancer has spread below the skin. Each level indicates what layer of skin the cancer has penetrated. In Clark Level I, the cancer is in the epidermis (outer layer of skin) only. In Clark Level II, the cancer has begun to grow into the papillary dermis (upper layer of the dermis). In Clark Level III, the cancer has grown through the papillary dermis into the papillary-reticular dermal interface but not into the reticular dermis (lower layer of the dermis). In Clark Level IV, the cancer has grown into the reticular dermis. In Clark Level V, the cancer has grown into the subcutaneous tissue.
Was there ulceration reported in your pathology report?
What is ulceration?
Ulceration refers to the formation of a break on the skin over the melanoma.