2.3 Variables collected
Patient demographics, biopsy pathologic findings, surgical pathologic
features, and other clinical characteristics were collected from each
record. This data was recorded and stored on the our institution’s
REDCap, a secure web platform for building and managing online
databases. Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) status at biopsy was
reported as preset-brisk, present-non brisk, and absent. We analyzed
this variable considering all 3 categories and also as present (both
brisk and non-brisk) vs absent where indicated in the Results section.
Mitotic rate was recorded as >1 or <1. The
primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). Progression was
defined as either melanoma recurrence or death by any cause. Patients
were censored after their last documented encounter, including either
phone call or office visit with any provider, in the medical record.