[Sentinel lymph node in malignant melanoma]

Melanoma is highly malignant tumor which arises through malignant transformation of melanocytes. Surgical treatment of primary cutaneous melanoma including radical excision and intervention in regional lymphatic drainage is irreplaceable. Sentinel node biopsy is a recognized method of defining the stage of disease. Performance of sentinel node biopsy in patients in clinical stage Ib and II may reveal clinically occult nodal disease and thereby help identify a group of patients with occult stage III disease who may thereafter undergo complete lymphadenectomy and systemic treatment. Sentinel node biopsy is beneficial in treatment of melanoma, but the therapeutic value of sentinel node biopsy is still not completely clear and remains disputable.