Vertical growth phase as a prognostic factor for sentinel lymph node positivity in thin melanomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The 2010 AJCC guidelines recommended consideration of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for thin melanoma (Breslow thickness IV. Seven studies reported on VGP, which was strongly associated with SLN positivity (odds ratio 4.3; 95% CI, 2.5- 7.7). Conclusion: To date, this is the largest meta-analysis to examine predictors of SLN biopsy positivity in thin melanoma. VGP had a strong association with SLN biopsy positivity, providing support for its inclusion in standardized pathological reporting. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was supported in part by a Capital Health Trainee Research Award. The study sponsor had no role in design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, and writing the manuscript. The authors thank Kara Thompson and the Research Methods Unit at Dalhousie University for assistance in the meta-analysis and statistics, and Penny Logan from the Capital Health Halifax Infirmary Library for help with the literature search. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Noreen Walsh of the Division of Clinical Dermatology & Cutaneous Science, Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, for her insightful comments and critique of this manuscript. Corresponding author: Michael Bezuhly, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, 5850/5980 University Avenue, PO Box 9700, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3K 6R8; Tel: +1-902-470-8168, Fax: +1-902-470-7939; E-mail: mbezuhly@dal.ca ©2018American Society of Plastic Surgeons