Critical appraisal:Posther KE, Selim MA, Mosca PJ, Stanley WE, Johnson JL, Tyler DS, et al 2006 3

Critical Appraisal

Article being appraised

Posther KE, Selim MA, Mosca PJ, Stanley WE, Johnson JL, Tyler DS, et al. Histopathologic characteristics, recurrence patterns, and survival of 129 patients with desmoplastic melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2006 May;13(5):728-39 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16538415.

Applicable clinical question

• What is the role of sentinel node biopsy for desmoplastic neurotropic melanomas?

Key Facts

Study Design

cohort study

Study aims:

To examine disease characteristics, recurrence patterns, nodal metastases, and correlation with survival to provide additional guidance for the surgical management of primary and recurrent desmoplastic melanoma.

Number of Patients:

129

129 with DM.

Reported outcome(s):

rate of sentinel node metastasis

Results of outcome(s):

rate was 7/12, 58.3%

Includes an economic evaluation

no

Evidence ratings

Level of evidence

III-2

Risk of bias

High 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

Selected group

Comparison group

Selected group

Comparability of groups on demographic characteristics and clinical features

Not comparable and not adjusted for differences

Measurement of outcomes

Outcome measures blind to technology used

No, but objective measures used

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

Size of effect

5	Reason for decision: Please replace this text and briefly describe the reasons for your rating

Relevance of evidence

2	Additional comments: Please replace this text and briefly describe the reasons for your rating

Result of appraisal

Included

Completed by

Cecilia Taing

This appraisal has been completed.

Article

Posther KE, Selim MA, Mosca PJ, Stanley WE, Johnson JL, Tyler DS, et al. Histopathologic characteristics, recurrence patterns, and survival of 129 patients with desmoplastic melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2006 May;13(5):728-39 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16538415.

Assigned to

User:Cecilia.taing

Topic area

Guidelines:Melanoma

Clinical question

• What is the role of sentinel node biopsy for desmoplastic neurotropic melanomas?

Form

Form:Critical appraisal

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