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Review
. 2018 Feb 9;5(1):21-25.
doi: 10.1159/000484892. eCollection 2018 Jan-Mar.

Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma: A Short Update

Gerardo Ferrara  1 , Antonietta Partenzi  2 , Alessandra Filosa  1
Affiliations
Review

Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma: A Short Update

Gerardo Ferrara et al. Dermatopathology (Basel). .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Melanoma; Sentinel node biopsy; Staging.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Nodal deep penetrating nevus: the lesion is intracapsular (a) with a checkerboard pattern of melanin distribution (b), melanocytes with sebocyte-like features (c), and random cytological atypia (d).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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