Predicting risk for seroma development after axillary or inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is currently a routine procedure in the staging of patients with cutaneous melanoma; however, little information is available about the risk factors for postoperative complications, especially for the risk of seroma formation.

METHODS

Medical records of patients undergoing SLNB at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany, between 2011 and 2016, were reviewed. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of a wide range of variables on seroma development.

RESULTS

A total of 615 patients were included in the study. Overall, 20.4% of patients developed complications with seroma being the most common postoperative complication. Development of seroma was significantly more common among smokers than nonsmokers (OR = 1.956, P = 0.007). Inguinal localization (OR = 3.644, P < 0.0001) was also associated with seroma formation. Male patients developed a seroma significantly more often than female patients following SLNB (OR = 2.104, P = 0.001). The presence or absence of metastasis in the lymph node did not influence seroma development.

CONCLUSIONS

Male sex, inguinal localization, and smoking are risk factors for the development of seroma.