title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma is becoming a consensus: a national survey of French centres involved in melanoma care in 2008.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in melanoma care remains controversial and is not included in most guidelines for the management of melanoma in Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the practice of SLN biopsy for melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to physicians in 49 hospitals in France.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires were returned by 34 (69.3%). A median number of 90 new cases of melanoma were treated each year per centre. SLN biopsy was performed routinely in 21 (61.7%) centres. The practice of SLN biopsy for melanoma was recommended in the local guidelines in 53% of centres. The proportion of patients reported as undergoing SLN biopsy for melanoma was significantly higher in centres with local guidelines than in centres without local guidelines (33.4 ± 21.4% vs. 13.1 ± 21.8%; P = 0.003). Where the local guidelines recommended SLN biopsy (n = 21), it was advocated in the case of Breslow thickness ≥1.0 mm (76%) and/or ulceration of the primary melanoma (38%) and/or histological regression of the primary melanoma (24%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study may be considered representative of SLN practice in France. Contrary to current national guidelines for melanoma care in France, SLN biopsy is routinely recommended in the majority of centres. Our study shows that the practice of SLN biopsy for melanoma is increasingly performed in patients with intermediate Breslow melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Paul Sabatier - Toulouse III University and Hôpital Larrey, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lourari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gouraud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tavitian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viraben
authors.forename: M-T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Leccia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saiag
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lebbe
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires