What is the recommended treatment following a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy?

Following a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy, the recommended treatment approach typically involves surgical excision of additional lymph nodes, often referred to as a completion lymph node dissection. This is a critical step in the management of patients with a diagnosis of melanoma or breast cancer where the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has tested positive for cancer cells.

The rationale behind this treatment is that a positive SLN indicates that cancer has potentially spread beyond the primary tumor site. By removing additional lymph nodes, healthcare providers can better assess the extent of cancer spread in the lymphatic system, which can influence further treatment decisions and prognostic assessments. This helps in reducing the risk of metastasis and may improve overall patient outcomes.

While chemotherapy and radiation therapy can play roles in the management of cancer depending on the stage and characteristics of the tumor, they are not the immediate next steps following a positive SLN biopsy. Comfortably staging and treating localized disease through surgical intervention remains the priority, and no treatment would neglect the potentially aggressive nature of the disease. By pursuing surgical excision, the care team aims to ensure comprehensive treatment and monitoring for recurrence.