Page 39 - PowerPoint Presentation

Sentinel lymph node

biopsy in melanoma

 The sentinel node is the first lymph node to which

lymph drainage from the area of the lesion is
received

 Procedure

 Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy using a radioisotope Tc-
99m

 Intraoperative injection of patent blue dye

Sentinel ymph node is “hot” & “blue”

“Hot” - the highest radioactivity as picked
up by Geiger counter (photo above)

“Blue” – the first node retaining blue dye

 Lymph node will be sent for paraffin section and
immunohistochemical staining (e.g. S-100,

Melan A). F

 For completion regional lymph node dissection
if positive.