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Review
. 2019 Oct 18;6(3):MMT24.
doi: 10.2217/mmt-2019-0011.

An evidence-based approach to positive sentinel node disease: should we ever do a completion node dissection?

Jennifer S Downs  1 , David E Gyorki  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

An evidence-based approach to positive sentinel node disease: should we ever do a completion node dissection?

Jennifer S Downs et al. Melanoma Manag. .

Abstract

Management of later stage melanoma has undergone significant changes. Sentinel node biopsy has long been an accepted method of staging, but two recent randomized-controlled trials have provided an evidence base for decision making about completion lymphadenectomy. They showed no survival advantage in further surgery for patients with positive sentinel node biopsies. There is now no evidence to support completion lymphadenectomy in the majority of patients, and this is reflected in international practice guidelines.

Keywords: DeCOG-SLT; MSLT-2; lymph node; lymphadenectomy; melanoma; sentinel node.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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