[Does sentinel node biopsy (SNB) solve the problem of elective lymph node excision in malignant melanoma?].

Abstract

Elective lymph node dissection in high-risk melanoma has been hotly debated for years. The technique of sentinel node (SN) biopsy may be a solution to the problem. Consequently, radical lymph node dissection is restricted to patients with an actual metastatic involvement of the SN (20-25%). The use of a hand-held gamma probe increases accuracy of SN detection.