Response to: 'Sentinel lymph node biopsy for in situ melanoma is unlikely in Australia by Morton and Thompson

We thank Drs Morton and Thompson1 for their comments on our indicator for low-value sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). They provide a plausible explanation for our finding that SLNB appears to be used for melanoma in situ in public hospitals in New South Wales (NSW). Their explanation is based on an understanding of care processes that cannot be inferred from our data. We hoped to gain such understanding through our clinician workshop, for which invitations were sent out widely through various channels. We agree it is unfortunate that no dermatologists, pathologists or oncologists chose to participate.

Morton and Thompson suggest that melanoma in situ is recorded when a wide-excision specimen is taken from a site that was previously biopsied and found to have invasive melanoma. If the wide-area specimen has residual melanoma in situ, this diagnosis is recorded, while the SLNB is done because of the earlier...

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