Thompson, John

Health-related Quality of Life and hospital costs of Finnish melanoma patients participating in the second Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-II).

Abstract Background and purpose: After reports that complete lymph node dissection (CLND) did not improve melanoma-specific survival of sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive patients, the use of CLND has diminished but it is still carried out for selected patients. We sought to assess differences in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and tertiary care costs among the Finnish Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT)-II-patients. Patients/materials and methods: A total of 52 patients randomized to CLND and 55 to nodal observation completed a modified version of the standardized and validated, RAND-36 questionnaire at baseline, 4 months and annually up to 5 years. Tertiary care costs [...]

February 10th, 2025|Comments Off on Health-related Quality of Life and hospital costs of Finnish melanoma patients participating in the second Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT-II).

Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of invasive melanoma: A systematic review with meta-analyses.

Abstract Background: The use of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) in melanoma treatment has divided opinion and evidence-based guidelines are lacking. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to analyse clinical outcomes for patients with invasive melanomas treated with Mohs rather than wide local excision (WLE). Methods: Embase, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases (to 30 August 2023) were searched for studies using Mohs to treat invasive melanoma. Outcomes of interest were local recurrence and death from melanoma. Results: Thirty-five articles involving 41,499 patients with invasive melanoma treated with Mohs were identified. Sixteen studies compared Mohs with WLE and 19 were Mohs-only, non-comparative studies. Patients treated with Mohs [...]

February 1st, 2025|Comments Off on Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of invasive melanoma: A systematic review with meta-analyses.

Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma Remains a Valuable Clinical Tool. Comment on Dixon et al. Primary Cutaneous Melanoma-Management in 2024. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 1607.

Abstract Management of melanoma in 2024 requires at times complex decision making and a multidisciplinary approach. An article by Dixon and collaborators published in this Journal contained broad-reaching recommendations, some of which are in contradiction of accepted National and International Guidelines. This article seeks to highlight these points of contention and outline widely accepted standards of care that are considered best practice. Read Full Paper

January 2nd, 2025|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma Remains a Valuable Clinical Tool. Comment on Dixon et al. Primary Cutaneous Melanoma-Management in 2024. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 1607.

Risk of Death Due to Melanoma and Other Causes in Patients With Thin Cutaneous Melanomas.

Abstract Importance: Most patients who present with primary cutaneous melanomas have thin tumors (≤1.0 mm in Breslow thickness, ie, pT1a and pT1b). Although their prognosis is generally considered to be excellent, there is limited precise information on the association of risk of death with specific Breslow measurements in thin lesions. Objective: To assess the relative effect of a 0.8-mm Breslow thickness threshold with respect to the incidence of both melanoma-related and nonmelanoma-related death. Design, setting, and participants: Registry data for all Australians diagnosed with thin invasive primary melanomas between 1982 and 2014 were analyzed. Data were extracted from all 8 Australian state [...]

December 11th, 2024|Comments Off on Risk of Death Due to Melanoma and Other Causes in Patients With Thin Cutaneous Melanomas.

Clinical significance of intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal sentinel lymph nodes detected on lymphoscintigraphy in truncal melanoma patients.

Abstract Background: Although most melanomas drain to the more common major lymph node basins (axilla, groin, neck), rarely they drain to deep SLN locations such as intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic (including intercostal and internal mammary) sites, which pose a higher surgical risk and complexity for procurement. Our study is aimed at determining the rate of positivity and likelihood of recurrence in these nodal sites to guide management decisions for patients with truncal melanomas which drain to these 'deep' SLN locations. Methods: Retrospective data collected between May 2008 and May 2022 including all patients with truncal melanomas who underwent lymphoscintigraphy resulting in the [...]

December 9th, 2024|Comments Off on Clinical significance of intra-thoracic and intra-abdominal sentinel lymph nodes detected on lymphoscintigraphy in truncal melanoma patients.

Short-Term Effectiveness of a Stepped-Care Model to Address Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Early-Stage Melanoma.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the Melanoma Care Programme when implemented into routine clinical practice coupled with fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) screening and a stepped-care model of intervention delivery. Methods: Using a Type-I hybrid effectiveness-implementation design, individuals with stage 0-II melanoma and a Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory FCR severity score of ≥ 13 were offered the Melanoma Care Programme. The programme included a psychoeducational booklet and 3 to 5 psychotherapeutic telehealth sessions with a clinical psychologist, timed around routine dermatological appointments. Multivariable linear mixed modelling was used to analyse the effect of the intervention at 1-week post-intervention [...]

December 1st, 2024|Tags: , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Short-Term Effectiveness of a Stepped-Care Model to Address Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Early-Stage Melanoma.
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