Sentinel node biopsy for early stage melanoma: statistical analysis of 212 consecutive cases

Surglcal treatment of cllnically negative Iymph nodes, in melanoma patients is not systematically performed, because elective Iymph node dissection (ELND) does not seem to yield areai increase ofsurvival and has ahigh morbidity rate. In recent years, identification ofoccult metastases by "Iymphatlc mapping" (LM) and localization of sentinellympll flodes, as well as Iymph node staging performed by preoperative Iymphoscintigraphy, has enabled both better patients selection far loco-regionallymphadenectomy and better staging of the dlsease. We present our experience with this technique, highlighting the possibility of using it in ali body sites (even the head and neck), and eonfirming that the sentinellymph node technique can provide useful information that can help prediet the recurrence and survival rate