[Benefits of sentinel lymph node examination in early breast carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
Sentinel lymph node biopsy improves staging of disease, saves the axilla, and significantly reduces the risk of complications.


METHODS
The authors compare the two groups of surgical treatment of breast cancer patients--after conventional surgery with axillary exenteration with a group of patients with sentinel node biopsy using gamma probe with limited power.


RESULTS
In group of 42 patients after axillary exenteration authors observed: hematoma in 2 patients, 1 postoperative bleeding that need for surgical revision, 2 patients had paresthesia and 1 patient had lymphedema, which represents 11.5% of complications. In the group of 54 patients after limited exercise with the use of sentinel biopsy and gamma probe authors reported only one complication--an infected surgical wound seroma in the axilla (1.8% complications).


CONCLUSIONS
Examination of sentinel node biopsy in combination with exact measurement of gamma probe allows friendly operating performance in the axilla and significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative complications.
Chirurgická klinika FNsP PreSov, Slovenská republika. mytnik@fnsppresov.sk
M
M
Mytnik
J
J
Petrík
J
J
Hanudel'
M
M
Wereb
J
J
Klc
L
L
Straka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects