title: National protocols for lymphatic mapping.
abstract: New technology being incorporated into the surgical oncology and general surgery practice has the potential of changing the way many solid tumors are treated. The new procedures promise to be more conservative and less morbid for the patient, but at the same time result in better staging for the patient. National protocols have begun to examine the wide spread applicability of radioguided surgery techniques and to answer some key questions concerning the technology, including the clinical relevance of upstaging that occurs with a more detailed examination of the sentinel lymph node. A national training network is being established to quality assure the surgery performed on the national trials.
authors.affiliation: Cutaneous Oncology Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Reintgen
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*