title: [Sentinel lymph node biopsy necessary in melanoma patients].
abstract: Sentinel lymph node biopsy provides melanoma patients with important prognostic information and improves staging and regional tumour control, while the morbidity is limited and the subsequent quality of life is good. The most important result of the only randomised study is the improved ten-year melanoma-specific survival in node-positive patients with an intermediate thickness melanoma. We recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy as a standard diagnostic procedure for these patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy can be considered in patients with a thinner or thicker melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, Australië.
authors.forename: Omgo E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Nieweg
authors.forename: Harald J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis