Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a minimally invasive technique used to precisely identify the lymph node at greatest risk for metastatic spread from the primary tumor. It is an outpatient procedure.

If you are scheduled for SLN, you will have a lymphoscintography (nuclear medicine scan) of your lymphatic system to identify the sentinel lymph node. You will have this scan on the day of your surgery. A small amount of radioactive dye will be injected in the skin around the site of your primary melanoma. As the material moves through the lymphatic channels, the scan is performed. The lymph node that picks up the dye is called the sentinel lymph node. This procedure makes a map for the surgeon to identify and remove the sentinel lymph node.

If you have a lymph node removed that indicates the melanoma has spread, your surgeon will recommend additional surgery to remove the rest of the lymph nodes in that area. This surgery is called lymphadenectomy or lymph node dissection. In addition, patients with spread of melanoma to lymph nodes sometimes take additional treatments (adjuvant therapy) after recovery from surgery to help prevent recurrence or further spread. These treatments can include medications, such as interferon-alpha; vaccine treatments; chemotherapy; or radiation therapy. Your health care team will discuss these options with you if they are indicated.