Procedure Guideline for Lymphoscintigraphy and the Use of Intraoperative Gamma Probe for Sentinel Lymph Node Localization in Melanoma of Intermediate Thickness 1.0*

The purpose of this guideline is to assist nuclear medicine practitioners in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting the results of (1) lymphoscintigraphy for identifying sentinel lymph nodes for excisional biopsy in patients with melanoma and (2) the use of the intraoperative gamma probe in the operating room. II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DEFINITIONS A. This guideline is written specifically for lymphoscin-tigraphy in patients with primary melanomas that originate in the skin. Staging of these tumors is based on tumor thickness (Breslow measurement) and level of skin invasion (Clark’s level), both of which are determined by the pathologist from a biopsy sample. Ample data correlate patient survival with Breslow and Clark measurements