Critical appraisal:Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd DR, et al 2009

Critical Appraisal

Article being appraised

Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd DR, et al. Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. J Clin Oncol 2009 Dec 20;27(36):6199-206 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19917835.

Applicable clinical question

What is the appropriate treatment for macroscopic (i.e. detectable clinically or by ultrasound) nodal metastasis?

Key Facts

Study Design

cohort study

Study aims:

To revise the staging system for cutaneous melanoma on the basis of data from an expanded American Joint committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging database.

Number of Patients:

3307

30946 patients combined, 3307 stage III patients

Reported outcome(s):

Survival

Results of outcome(s):

Five-year survival was 59% for melanoma patients IIIB (P < .0001)

Includes an economic evaluation

no

Evidence ratings

Level of evidence

II

Risk of bias

Moderate risk of bias

Comments: Please replace this text and include any additional comments in regards to your risk of bias rating

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Risk of bias assessment: cohort study

Subject selection

"New technology" group

Representative of eligible patients.

Comparison group

Representative of eligible patients

Comparability of groups on demographic characteristics and clinical features

Not comparable but adjusted analysis used

Measurement of outcomes

Outcome measures blind to technology used

Yes

Same method of measurement used across comparison groups

Yes

Completeness of follow-up

Was follow-up complete and were all patients included in the analysis?

Yes (follow-up >95%) or survival analysis using all patients

Result of appraisal

Included

Completed by

Lyndal Alchin

This appraisal has been completed.

Article: Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd DR, et al. Final version of 2009 AJCC melanoma staging and classification. J Clin Oncol 2009 Dec 20;27(36):6199-206 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19917835.

Assigned to

User:Lyndal.alchin

Topic area

Guidelines:Melanoma

Clinical question

What is the appropriate treatment for macroscopic (i.e. detectable clinically or by ultrasound) nodal metastasis?

Form: Form:Critical appraisal

Section below only relevant for Cancer Council Project Officer

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