title: The Role of Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Staging of Breast Cancer.
abstract: The widespread application of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the evaluation of patients with breast cancer has allowed for the more limited, selective treatment of regional lymph nodes and decreased the number of complete regional dissections performed in patients without nodal metastases. Surgical excision and pathologic evaluation of nodes for metastases allow for reliable staging and prediction of additional lymph node metastases. Sentinel lymph node biopsy also enables a meticulous histologic evaluation of multiple sections augmented by immunohistochemical staining. The current role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the staging of breast cancer and ongoing controversies relating to the procedure are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 4 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Roses
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department Section, Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Abass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 4 Silverstein, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Czerniecki