title: [Sentinel lymphadenectomy in malignant melanoma].
abstract: The sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is one of the most striking developments in the treatment of melanoma. Since the first report by Morton et al. in 1992, the method has been refined, and its use has increased. Introduced as an alternative to elective lymph node dissection (ELND), it has rapidly made its way into clinical practice. SLND allows precise pathologic staging through removal and analysis of a limited number of nodes (false-negative rate < 2%). It distinguishes patients with clinically occult nodal disease from those with tumor-free regional basin who would not benefit from radical dissection. However, the SLND is still an experimental procedure with yet unproven utility.
authors.affiliation: Funktionsbereich Plastische Chirurgie, Klinik für Allgemein- u. Viszeralchirurgie, Zentralklinikum Augsburg.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Büchels
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bachter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*