Nathanael R. Fillmore
Publications / 2026
paper
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology2026doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2026.03.124

Sentinel lymph node biopsy utilization and positivity in veterans with cutaneous melanoma: A comparative analysis of the VA Cancer Registry and the SEER Program.

Daniel Y. Kim, Susan M. Swetter, Linden Huhmann, Jacqueline M. Ferguson, Kimberly Breglio, Allyson C. Spence, Lee Wheless, Mary T. Brophy, Nhan V. Do, Nathanael Fillmore‡, Rebecca I. Hartman‡

‡ Equal senior authorship

Summary

Veterans with thick cutaneous melanoma are less likely to receive sentinel lymph node biopsies than the general population, despite having higher rates of cancer spread to the lymph nodes. This gap in care suggests a need for improved adherence to staging guidelines within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system to better inform treatment decisions and improve patient survival.

Key result

Veterans with T2–T4 cutaneous melanoma were less likely to receive sentinel lymph node biopsy than patients in the SEER cohort, despite exhibiting higher positivity rates among both those aged <65 years (27% vs 21%, P < .001) and those aged ≥65 years (24% vs 17%, P < .001).

Key figure

Key figure from Sentinel lymph node biopsy utilization and positivity in veterans with cutaneous melanoma: A comparative analysis of the VA Cancer Registry and the SEER Program.