Table 2 Survival analysis of RFS for HNM patients according to accomplished SLNB and its results (n = 79). RFS was analyzed by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression

SLNB result

No biopsy

1.000

1.000

Positive SLN

<  0.001

14.442

6.974

29.906

0.001

4.046

1.779

9.200

Negative SLN

0.312

1.333

0.763

2.328

0.311

0.717

0.377

1.365

Age at diagnosis

<  50

1.000

1.000

50.0–59.9

0.040

2.794

1.047

7.453

0.002

5.007

1.814

13.882

60.0–69.9

0.021

2.971

1.178

7.493

0.001

5.090

1.963

13.196

70.0–79.9

<  0.001

4.838

2.043

11.460

<  0.001

5.774

2.325

14.336

≥ 80.0

<  0.001

7.343

3.030

17.794

<  0.001

8.875

3.447

22.853

Sex

Male

1.000

1.000

Female

0.136

0.738

0.495

1.101

0.770

1.066

0.694

1.637

UICC stage

I

1.000

1.000

II + III

<  0.001

5.501

3.710

8.157

<  0.001

3.752

2.222

6.338

Localisation

Scalp and neck

1.000

1.000

Face

0.021

0.625

0.419

0.931

0.004

0.498

0.309

0.801

CCI classified

0

1.000

1.000

≥ 1

<  0.001

2.505

1.685

3.725

0.269

1.291

0.821

2.030

Resection margin (mm)

<  5

1.000

1.000

5–9

0.048

0.611

0.375

0.995

0.017

0.532

0.317

0.893

≥ 10

0.437

0.826

0.511

1.336

<  0.001

0.255

0.145

0.450

Histological subgroups

Lentigo maligna melanoma

1.000

1.000

Nodular melanoma

<  0.001

5.443

3.339

8.872

<  0.001

4.181

2.220

7.876

Superficial spreading melanoma

0.426

0.792

0.445

1.407

0.885

1.047

0.559

1.964

Melanoma not otherwise specified

<  0.001

3.063

1.703

5.512

<  0.001

4.929

2.360

10.293