Does radiocolloid remain the gold standard in melanomas? New sentinel lymph node localization techniques

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of cancer, which makes accurate staging crucial for determining appropriate treatment. In melanoma patients, lymph node status is the most significant predictor of survival. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a minimally invasive technique that provides essential information for staging, prognosis, and identifying patients who require further treatment. SLNB involves using a radioactive tracer (Technetium-99) and lymphatic mapping with a vital blue dye, such as isosulfan blue, methylene blue, or patent blue. This procedure helps patients avoid unnecessary complete lymph node dissection (CLND) when pathological examination reveals no melanoma metastases. This review summarizes various techniques for sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) mapping and explores emerging approaches, including indocyanine green (ICG), magnetic tracers, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT).