title: Sentinel lymph node biopsy in gastrointestinal malignancies-where do we stand?
abstract: Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are the nodes in direct communication with the primary tumor and are therefore the first group of nodes to be involved in lymphatic metastasis. Though the role of SLN biopsy is well established in cancers of the breast and melanoma, its role in gastrointestinal malignancies is still evolving and controversial. In this paper, the literature is reviewed with respect to the status of SLN biopsy in gastrointestinal malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Trinidad, West Indies. drravi_maharaj@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Naraynsingh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hariharan
mesh_terms: D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*