Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: critical assessment at its twentieth anniversary

The technique of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was introduced 20 years ago as an important advance in the management of patients with stage I and II melanoma. After 2 decades of experience, SLN biopsy and the practice of selective lymphadenectomy represents a minimally invasive standard of care that facilitates the accurate staging of the clinically negative regional lymph node basin, provides durable regional disease control, and improves survival in node-positive patients.