Advocating Sentinel Node Biopsy in the Management of Cutaneous Melanoma

The incidence of melanoma has increased in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand in the past decade. Currently, the mainstay treatment for patients with primary cutaneous melanoma is surgery, as adjuvant systemic therapy has limited efficacy. The role of sentinel node biopsy has been debated since its introduction 20 years ago. A review of the role of this technique in the management of patients with stage I and II melanoma in terms of staging, prognosis, morbidity, therapeutic benefit, and enrollment in clinical trials appears to be timely.