Application Detail

Description of Medical Service

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNBx) is a procedure that is performed increasingly in Australia for patients with intermediate thickness melanoma, to determine if melanoma cells have spread to the sentinel lymph nodes.

SLNBx with excision of lymph node(s) is identified by a combination of blue dye (lymphotropic dye injection) and lymphoscintography/gamma probe, ideally performed at the time of the primary melanoma wide excision (although this is not always possible).

Description of Medical Condition

Melanoma is a malignancy of skin pigment cells (melanocytes). The lifetime risk for melanoma in Australia is 1 in 24 for males and 1 in 35 for females. In 2011 there were 11,500 new cases diagnosed in Australia (Cancer Council Australia) and more than 1,500 die each year from the disease.

Reason for Application

New MBS item

Medical Service Type

Investigative

Previous Application Number/s

1485

Associated Documentation

Application Form

Application form (PDF 870 KB)
Application form (Word 105 KB)

Consultation Survey

Consultation survey (PDF 559 KB)
Consultation survey (Word 70 KB)

PICO Confirmation

-

Assessment Report

-

Public Summary Document

Public Summary Document (PDF 572 KB)
Public Summary Document (Word 189 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

-

ESC

13-14 February 2020

MSAC

3 April 2020