title: Sentinel node biopsy and improved patient care.
abstract: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is based on the hypothesis that the sentinel lymph node (SLN) reflects the lymph-node status and a negative SLN might allow complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to be avoided. Past and current sentinel lymph node clinical trials for breast carcinoma have addressed the prognostic and therapeutic benefits of this technique and as such, SLNB has become a standard of care for select breast cancer patients. This article reviews the history of SLNB as well as current guidelines and recent controversies.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Armando E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gangi
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000266:history; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000266:history / Q000473:pathology; D005791:Patient Care / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000266:history*; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: breast cancer; lymphatic system; sentinel node; sentinel node biopsy