TNM 8th Edition: Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Stage T1b Melanoma

With the recent publication of TNM 8th Edition any Melanoma with a Breslow thickness (BT) <0.8mm has been reclassified as T1a regardless of the presence or absence of ulceration or mitotic rate[1]. The previous edition had stated that a T1a included any Melanoma with a BT of ≤ 1.0mm but upstaged to T1b with the presence of ulceration and/or mitotic rate ≥ 1/mm2. Whilst we await the results of MSLT II [3] many surgeons offer Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for all patients with staging T1b and higher and no evidence of macroscopic nodal disease.

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