Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: technical considerations of the procedure as performed at the John Wayne Cancer Institute.
Since its first description in 1990, sentinel node (SN) biopsy has become the standard for accurate staging of a melanoma-draining regional lymphatic basin. This minimally invasive, multidisciplinary technique can detect occult metastases by selective sampling and focused pathologic analysis of the first nodes on the afferent lymphatic pathway from a primary cutaneous melanoma. An understanding of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative lymphatic mapping, and the definition of SN are critical for surgical expertise with SN biopsy.
John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California 90404, USA.
Sanjay P
SP
Bagaria
Mark B
MB
Faries
Donald L
DL
Morton
D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*