Lymphatic mapping in the management of melanoma in children

Lymphatic mapping allows the surgeon to identify and remove the first drain ing (sentinel) lymph node from a primary melanoma with minimal morbidity. T he procedure facilitates accurate staging and identification of patients in need of additional therapy. We used lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph n ode biopsy in two children with melanoma. Both patients had evidence of met astatic melanoma in their sentinel lymph nodes and underwent regional lymph adenectomy, Malignant melanoma and atypical pigmented lesions in children r emain diagnostically challenging for the pathologist and clinician. Misdiag noses occur, and the correct interpretation of a melanocytic tumor is too o ften made only after recurrence or metastasis has occurred. The use of lymp hatic mapping facilitates accurate staging and identifies children in whom additional therapy may be indicated. In addition, it can assist in the asse ssment of the biologic potential of a difficult lesion.