Patterns of Drainage and Recurrence Following Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Cutaneous Melanoma of the Head and Neck

Abstract
The pathologic status of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has been shown to be the most important prognostic factor for recurrence in cutaneous melanoma.1 The SLN biopsy (SLNB) provides accurate nodal staging with low morbidity2-4 and is useful in selecting patients who are most likely benefit from completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and possibly other adjuvant therapy. The SLN is defined as a node that receives direct independent drainage from the primary melanoma site. It is not necessarily the closest node, but it does exclude secondary nodes from flowing from that particular node as observed by lymphoscintigraphy.