3.2 Biopsy findings associated with residual melanoma on wide
local excision
We first sought to identify variables of interest from the biopsy
pathology report associated with whether there would be residual
melanoma at the time of wide local excision. Of the 67 patients whose
surgical pathology report identified presence or absence of residual
melanoma, 31 (46.3%) did not have residual melanoma and 36 (53.7%)
did. The 10 variables listed in Table 3 were used as predictors
in a univariable Firth logistic regression model. Of these, only
involvement of the deep margins at biopsy was a significant predictor of
residual melanoma at the time of surgery (Odds ratio 4.12, p=0.009).
This finding coincided with the results in a backward elimination
multivariable Firth logistic model.