Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: critical assessment at its twentieth anniversary.
The technique of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was introduced 20 years ago as an important advance in the management of patients with stage I and II melanoma. After 2 decades of experience, SLN biopsy and the practice of selective lymphadenectomy represents a minimally invasive standard of care that facilitates the accurate staging of the clinically negative regional lymph node basin, provides durable regional disease control, and improves survival in node-positive patients.
Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 444, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Merrick I
MI
Ross
John F
JF
Thompson
Jeffrey E
JE
Gershenwald
D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis