The role of sentinel node biopsy in melanoma is an ongoing discussion. Recent revisions to the AJCC Criteria have shifted the landscape. This article explores melanoma guidelines and recent revisions.
In this Article on Sentinel Node Biopsy
5 Key Points
What is the definition of a sentinel node biopsy?
1st node to receive drainage from an area & represent a nodal basin
What is the role of a sentinel node biopsy?
Prognosis, staging, and adjuvant treatments.
What are the indications of a sentinel node biopsy?
primary melanoma ≥ pT2a, pT1b with high-risk features.
What is the management of a positive sentinel node biopsy?
Observation, adjuvants, completion of lymph node dissection.
What guidelines are used in sentinel node biopsy?
Guidelines are AJCC Cancer Stage 8th Edition. There are also oncological adjuvant therapy studies and node dissection trials.
Definition of Sentinel Node Biopsy
The definition of "sentinel lymph node" has evolved since Morton et al’s initial publication on the role of lymphoscintigraphy for melanoma in 19921.

Role of Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma
Prognosis
Sentinel Node Biopsy (SLNBx) provides prognostic data on all depths of melanoma2. For example, a patient with pT1b melanoma has 2 options:
- No SLNBx: melanoma is now classified as a clinical Stage 1B with 5-year and 10-year survival of 97% and 93%, respectively3.
- SLNBx: melanoma is now classified as a pathological Stage 1A with a 5-year and 10-year survival of 99% and 96%, respectively3.
These prognostic implications are also relevant to thin melanomas (BT<1mm)4,5

Treatment Pathways
The primary role of sentinel node biopsy is changing from that of a prognostic indicator to one that now influences access to adjuvant therapy6.
For those with a positive sentinel node, upstaging the disease allows earlier identification for adjuvant therapies. It also allows them to be categorized in a “high-risk follow-up group”7.
Performing Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma
Indications
There are two main indications for sentinel node biopsy in melanoma.
- Primary Cutaneous Melanoma ≥ pT2a
- Primary Cutaneous Melanoma ≥ pT1b should be considered, especially if Lymphovascular Invasion or Mitotic rate ≥ 2/mm
The mitotic rate has been removed in version 8 of the AJCC guidelines. An increase in mitotic rate decreases melanoma-specific survival3.
It is not currently indicated for T1a melanomas. The rationale for this cutoff is based on findings demonstrating that the frequency of sentinel lymph node metastasis is <5% (Swetter, 2019)
Risk of Positive Sentinel Node
The risk of finding a positive sentinel node is correlated to the stage of the depth of the disease, as described below:
- pT1a: <10% 8,9
- pT1b: 5-12% 6
- BT > 4mm: 30% 8,10
Techniques
The 3 commonly used techniques for sentinel node biopsies are radioactive isotope, blue dye or indocyanine green. Here is an overview of their key points:
Radioactive Isotope
- The current standard method of lymphatic mapping
- Intradermal injection of a radiotracer at the tumour site & lymphoscintigraphy
- Handheld gamma probe or a camera is used intraoperatively to guide dissection and detect the appropriate sentinel node(s).
- Technetium-99m–labelled radiocolloids are the most commonly used radiotracers for lymphatic mapping
Blue Dyes
- Blue dyes were initially used by Morton et al.
- Blue dye alone has shown to have a sensitivity of 81% (Silvestri, 2019).
- Patent Blue V, isosulfan blue and methylene blue are commonly used.
- Rare risks include anaphylactic reactions, obscured intraoperative dissection, tattooing, and interference with pulse oximetry
Indocyanine Green
- Indocyanine green is a fluorescent tricarbocyanine dye
- The sensitivity of sentinel lymph node biopsy is reported as 91- 98%, a specificity of 100% (Clloyd, 2014).
- It cannot be used in patients with iodine or shellfish allergies.
Timing of Sentinel Node Biopsy
The standard of care is to provide a sentinel lymph node biopsy at the time of wide local excision. Studies have found that sentinel lymph node biopsy after wide local excision is feasible with no difference in recurrence or survival with a delayed sentinel lymph node biopsy16-21.
Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy in Melanoma
Completion Lymph Node Dissection in Melanoma
Complete lymph node dissection should not be routinely recommended for patients who have a positive sentinel node biopsy6. Consider this treatment option in patients who are high risk of regional relapse based on their sentinel node results:
- Extra-capsular spread
- 3 or more sentinel nodes
- Dewar Criteria12 (multifocal and extensive).
- Node-only recurrence having failed first-line systemic treatment.
The MSLT-213 and DeCOG14 Trials reported on the outcome of patients with a positive sentinel node randomised into observation and surgery. Key results include:
- No survival advantage of completion lymph node dissection over radiological observation
- Increase risk of nodal recurrence in those patients with observation
Patients undergoing immediate lymph node dissection have
- Increased rate of regional disease control13
- Prognostic information13
- No increase in melanoma-specific survival13
- An increased risk of morbidity in nodal dissection patients15
With head and neck melanomas, adjuvant therapy is preferred to neck dissection3.
Adjuvant Therapy in Melanoma
Discussed in more detail: Oncological Adjuvant Therapies in Melanoma
Current guidelines state adjuvant therapy should be available to Stage 3 patients.
Generally speaking, patients deemed at high risk with a positive sentinel node should be considered for melanoma adjuvant therapy. A lymph node dissection could be considered if they have a node-only recurrence post-adjuvant treatment.
Radiological Observation in Melanoma
There is currently no consensus for ideal imaging in melanoma7
Current options include:
- Ultrasound: MLST and DeCOG Trials but does have operator dependability5
- CT/PET: more sensitive to picking up recurrences5
- MRI is used in some UK centres6
Imaging surveillance will differ for those on adjuvant systemic therapy.

AJCC Version 8 Updates
This article is written with the most recent version of AJCC and other publications, as referenced below. The following is a list of V8 updates3
- Tumor thickness: record to the nearest 0.1 mm, not 0.01 mm
- New pT1a <0.8 mm without ulceration
- New pT1b 0.8‐1.0 mm with or without ulceration or <0.8 mm with ulceration
- Mitotic rate no longer a T category criterion
- Pathological (but not clinical) stage IA is revised to include T1b N0 M0 (formerly pathologic stage IB);
- The N category descriptors “microscopic” and “macroscopic” for regional node metastasis are redefined as “clinically occult” and “clinically apparent and subcategories are revised, with the presence of microsatellites, satellites, or in‐transit metastases now categorized as N1c, N2c, or N3c based on the number of tumor‐involved regional lymph node
- Descriptors are added to each M1 subcategory designation for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (LDH elevation no longer upstages to M1c)
- A new M1d designation is added for central nervous system metastases.
References
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- Wat H, Senthilselvan A, Salopek TG. A retrospective, multicenter analysis of the predictive value of mitotic rate for sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity in thin melanomas. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published online January 2016:94-101. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.09.014
- Ribero S, Osella-Abate S, Sanlorenzo M, et al. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Thick-Melanoma Patients (N=350): What is Its Prognostic Role? Ann Surg Oncol. Published online November 12, 2014:1967-1973. doi:10.1245/s10434-014-4211-7
- Madu MF, Wouters MWJM, van Akkooi ACJ. Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma: Current controversies addressed. European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO). Published online March 2017:517-533. doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2016.08.007
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