title: Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer revisited.
abstract: The axilla has long been a focus of clinicians' attention in the management of breast cancer. The approach to the axilla has undergone dramatic changes over the last century, from radical and extended radical excisions, through the introduction of sentinel node biopsy for node negative patients to the current situation where selective management of those with nodal involvement is being introduced. The introduction of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in the 1990's has been key to the major changes that have occurred. In less than 20 years it has moved from a hypothesis to a situation where it is the default approach to almost all clinically node negative patients and is being considered in other situations where axillary clearance was previously considered standard. This article reviews the development and introduction of sentinel node biopsy, its current uncertainties and limitations, and possible future developments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omair
authors.affiliation: The Breast Service, Royal Melbourne and Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; St James's Hospital, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Dhafir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Azawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Australia; The Breast Service, Royal Melbourne and Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: Bruce.mann@mh.org.au.
authors.forename: Gregory Bruce
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Breast cancer; Review; Sentinel node biopsy