Pathologic examination of the sentinel lymph node in melanoma.

The techniques of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy are effective methods of accurately staging melanoma patients and identifying those who may benefit from further surgery or adjuvant chemotherapy. This article describes a standard pathology protocol for examination of sentinel lymph nodes in melanoma. Details of this standardized lymph node examination, institutional results using the protocol, and a literature review concerning lymph node findings in malignant melanoma are included.