Who should have a sentinel lymph node biopsy?
What is a sentinel lymph node (SLN)? The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node to which the melanoma tumor drains. This is the first major stop along a lymphatic channel out to the rest of the body. Melanoma spreads through the lymphatic channels, circulatory highways (veins and arteries), or by direct extension of the tumor (growing larger and invading adjacent tissue). It is important to identify this node(s) as tumors don’t always drain to the nearest or most anatomically logical node. Additionally, they may drain to more than one lymphatic basin.
