Open AccessSentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma: A Short Update
Author(s) -
Gerardo Ferrara,
Antonietta Partenzi,
Alessandra Filosa
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
dermatopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2296-3529
DOI - 10.1159/000484892
Subject(s) - sentinel node , melanoma , medicine , biopsy , sentinel lymph node , dissection (medical) , lymphovascular invasion , radiology , cancer , metastasis , cancer research , breast cancer
Several controversies are still ongoing about sentinel node biopsy in melanoma. It is basically a staging procedure for melanoma > 0.75 mm in thickness or for thinner melanoma in the presence of ulceration, high mitotic rate, and/or lymphovascular invasion. Complete lymph node dissection after a positive sentinel node can also allow a better locoregional disease control but seems not to prevent the development of distant metastases. The use of sentinel node biopsy in atypical Spitz tumors should be discouraged because of their peculiar biological properties.