title: [Validation of the sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assessment of our experience and validation of the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique in breast cancer stage T0-T2N0M0 surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identification and biopsy of the sentinel lymph node by the radio colloid method in a consecutive series of 205 patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer stage T0-T2N0M0 between October 1998 and January 2007, initially in association with a complete axillary lymph node dissection (learning curve), later in an elective way. Prospective recording of the data and analysis with an average follow-up of 50 months (3 to 102 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biopsy rate of the sentinel lymph node of 90%, false negative rate of the method 2.5%, axillary recurrence rate 0%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm in this series that the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique is a reliable approach in our experience for the evaluation of the axillary lymph node status in breast cancer stage T0-T2N0M0.
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège, Service de Sénologie, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bleret
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lifrange
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghuysen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milet
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy