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Understanding a sentinel lymph node biopsy service for patients with malignant melanoma

26 September 2019
Florence Nightingale Foundation
02 September 2019
Volume 28 · Issue 17

Abstract

Malignant melanoma cases represented the seventh most common cancer type in Northern Ireland between 2011 and 2015, and the incidence of melanoma cases is expected to rise. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is commonly offered to patients in the UK with malignant melanoma to help in staging their disease, but a commissioned SLNB service is not available in Northern Ireland. This article describes a Florence Nightingale Foundation Travel Scholarship to gain knowledge and experience with the aim of developing and implementing an effective and efficient SLNB service for patients with malignant melanoma in Northern Ireland. A 3-week visit was made to an eminent centre of excellence in skin oncology in the UK.

Malignant melanoma cases represented the seventh most common cancer type in Northern Ireland with an average of 357 cases diagnosed between 2013 and 2017 (Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, 2017a). The projected incidence of melanoma cases is expected to rise to approximately 533 per year by 2025 and 687 per year by 2035 (Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, 2017b).

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been accepted by many as the gold standard in the management of patients with intermediate prognosis cutaneous melanoma in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Europe (Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2015). However, in Northern Ireland this service is not available despite the increasing evidence to support the role of SLNB for this patient group. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on Melanoma: assessment and management states

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Melanoma
Service development
Patient education
Travel scholarship