[Implementation of sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer in the North of France].
OBJECTIVE
To assess how surgeons in the Region Nord-Pas-de-Calais are incorporating sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) into practice, before publication of official guidelines for this procedure.


METHODS
Five hundred thirty five general or gynecologic surgeons were mailed a questionnaire, with 81 performed breast cancer operations responding.


RESULTS
Forty five surgeons (55%) performed fewer than 20 breast cancer operations per year (group A), 19 (23%) between 20 and 50 cancers (group B), 17 (21%) more than 50 breast cancers per year (group C). Forty nine (60%) performed SLNB: 38% in group A, 79% in group B, 100% in group C. Fifty seven p. cent used a combination of blue dye and sulfure colloide radioisotope, 22% use only radioisotope, 20% only blue dye. Eighty eight p. cent performed a learning curve, but with fewer than 20 procedures for 37%. Surgical training included scientific publications lecture (61%), formal training course (53%), or practical stage (41%).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgeon with a high exposure to breast disease seemed to be most involved in the development of SLNB.
Giard
Sylvia
S
Département de sénologie, Centre Oscar-Lambret, 3 rue F.-Combemale, 59020 Lille Cedex. s-giard@o-lambret.fr
Chauvet
Marie-Pierre
MP
Jafari
Mehrdad
M
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data