The Role of Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma

Purpose and Methods Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma patients has been guideline-concordant standard of care since adoption of lymphatic mapping and SLN biopsy for the management of clinically node-negative melanoma patients more than 20 years ago. However, a trend for omission of CLND has been observed over the past decade, and we now have randomized, controlled clinical trial data to help guide treatment recommendations. Publication of these data prompted an American Society of Clinical Oncology—Society of Surgical Oncology 2018 clinical practice guideline update for these patients.