[Sentinel lymph node in nonmelanoma skin cancer]

Abstract

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed routinely in melanoma because lymph node progression has been shown to be the strongest predictor of survival. Given the proven relevance of biopsy findings in this type of skin cancer, the procedure has been extended to other skin tumors. Experience in nonmelanoma cancer is much more limited and the prognostic usefulness of biopsy results remains to be shown. This critical review of the literature on the various skin tumors in which sentinal node biopsy has been practiced discusses the usefulness of this procedure.