Primary Malignant Melanoma and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Assessing the Impact of Teledermatology in an Eight‐Year Cohort

ABSTRACT

This eight‐year retrospective cohort study of 285 patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma compared diagnostic pathways and oncological outcomes, demonstrating significantly lower mortality in patients diagnosed via teledermatology versus face‐to‐face appointments (5% vs. 23%; adjusted OR 8.1; p  = 0.00009), despite comparable clinicopathological features. Sentinel lymph node biopsy positivity was independently associated with significantly higher odds of mortality (adjusted OR 13.9; p  = 0.02), confirming its continued prognostic value in guiding adjuvant therapy selection.