Impact of Completion Lymphadenectomy on Quality of Life for Head and Neck Cutaneous Melanoma

Objective: Recent randomized data suggest that completion lymph node dissection after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) improves locoregional control but does not improve survival for melanoma patients. Locoregional recurrences of head and neck cutaneous melanoma (HNCM) may result in significant morbidity. A better understanding of morbidity is thus important to inform decisions about whether to pursue completion neck dissection (ND). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital. Methods: Clinical data were collected for patients with HNCM seen between 2016 and 2019 who were at least 1-year disease free. Each patient completed the Self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (SLANSS), Neck Dissection Impairment Index, and SF-36 (Short Form–36). Scores were compared by surgical treatment: wide local excision (WLE) only, SLNB, and ND. Univariate and multivariable regression was performed. Results: Of 474 patients, 140 returned questionnaires (29.5% response rate; WLE, n = 49; SLNB, n = 76; ND, n = 15). No significant differences in SLANSS or Neck Dissection Impairment Index scores were found between the WLE and SLNB groups. SLANSS scores differed by 2 SD (P =.001) in the ND cohort, which had a 36% rate of neuropathy. Neck impairment was worse by 1 SD (P =.01) in the ND cohort. No differences were found in SF-36 domains. Conclusion: Neuropathy and neck impairment are components of morbidity after ND. These risks must be balanced with potential morbidity of locoregional recurrence in HNCM.