[Oncologist's perspective from sentinel node biopsy of melanoma - three decades of experience]

Sentinel lymph node biopsy was the first procedure to become the standard of care in the surgical treatment of melanoma patients, serving as a key procedure for determining the pathological stage of the disease. Thirty years ago, at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center of the University of Szeged, we were among the pioneers in introducing sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with melanoma in Hungary. In this publication, we summarize our experience gained during the treatment of two and a half thousand melanoma patients, based on our previously published reports on the subject. Our data support that sentinel lymph node biopsy remains the most important guide for oncologists in determining adjuvant treatment for patients. The management of melanoma patients should continue to be based on decisions made by multidisciplinary teams in specialized centers, where all diagnostic and therapeutic modalities are available to implement personalized therapies.