Time to reconsider the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma

Abstract

The Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trials indicate that there are no overall or melanoma-specific survival advantages to performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) followed by immediate completion lymph node dissection compared with wide excision and observation for patients with positive sentinel nodes. These results make SLNB solely a staging procedure. The role of SLNB in the management of patients with melanoma deserves reappraisal. The potential marginal benefit of SLNB beyond the clinical and pathologic features of the melanoma has not been well studied. The use of sentinel lymph node status alone to accept and stratify patients into trials or to receive adjuvant treatment is not rational.

Keywords: Breslow thickness; hazard ration; immediate completion lymph node dissection; melanoma; multicenter selective lymphadenectomy trial; prognosis; sentinel lymph node biopsy; survival.