Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma
Prior to the final report from MSLT-I, SLNB was widely accepted for selected patients as an important staging tool. In our clinics, when counseling patients about SLNB we often discussed that early identification of metastatic deposits would allow us to give more accurate prognostic information, possibly reduce the surgical complexity of CLND as compared with waiting until palpable disease presented, and identify candidates for adjuvant therapy or clinical trials earlier. Following the publication of the final data from MSLT-I, in addition to the benefits previously noted, we can also say that for select patients, the best evidence available suggests that early identification and intervention leads to improved outcomes.
Conclusion
Prior to the final report from MSLT-I, SLNB was widely accepted for selected patients as an important staging tool. In our clinics, when counseling patients about SLNB we often discussed that early identification of metastatic deposits would allow us to give more accurate prognostic information, possibly reduce the surgical complexity of CLND as compared with waiting until palpable disease presented, and identify candidates for adjuvant therapy or clinical trials earlier. Following the publication of the final data from MSLT-I, in addition to the benefits previously noted, we can also say that for select patients, the best evidence available suggests that early identification and intervention leads to improved outcomes.