Abstract： Objective To investigate the accuracy and feasibility of 99Tcm-rituximab SLNB in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and its influence on survival.Methods A total of 89 patients (48 males,41 females,average age (51.62±14.35) years) with CMM underwent SLN planar imaging 0.5-1.0 h after intradermal injection of 99Tcm-rituximab around primary lesions from June 2008 to November 2014.Based on the image,the SLNs were identified by a gamma probe and removed.The resected SLNs were examined pathologically with both HE and immunohistochemical staining.The results of SLN imaging and SLNB were analyzed retrospectively,and their OS and DFS were followed up.The relationship between the results and the clinical characteristics (age,gender,primary tumor site,primary tumor thickness,ulceration)were analyzed and the influence of SLN status (with or without metastasis) on OS and DFS was evaluated.Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance,two-sample t test,x2 test and Cox regression.Results The success rate of SLN imaging and biopsy was 100％ (89/89).There were 207 SLNs detected by lymphoscintigraphy and 228 SLNs by operation.Thirty-three metastatic SLN in 21 cases were confirmed by pathology.The numbers of SLN detected by lymphoscintigraphy were statistically significant among groups with different primary tumor sites (1.51±1.44,1.38±0.65,2.20±1.79;F=3.660,P＜0.05).SLN numbers detected by SLNB were statistically significant among groups with different primary tumor sites (2.85±1.74,1.54±0.78,1.20±1.10;F=5.504,P＜0.05) and between groups with or without ulceration (2.59±1.96,2.54±1.46;t=2.588,P＜0.05).SLN metastatic ratios were statistically significant only in patients with different primary tumor thickness (x2 =18.544,P＜0.05).Median follow-up time was 31 months.The rate of OS was 95.51％ (85/89),and the rate of DFS was 77.53％ (68/89).Univariate analysis found that DFS was affected by SLN status (with or without metastasis) and primary tumor thickness,but no statistical significance was found in Cox-regression.Conclusion 99Tcm-rituximab may be a reliable tracer in SLNB and a helpful tool for staging and prognosis of malignant melanoma.