Open AccessSentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer. Principle, Difficulties and Pitfalls
Author(s) -
George Iancu,
L. Mustaţă,
Ruxandra Gabriela Cigăran,
Nicolae Gică,
Radu Botezatu,
D Median,
Anca Maria Panaitescu,
Gheorghe Peltecu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chirurgia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.248
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1842-368X
pISSN - 1221-9118
DOI - 10.21614/chirurgia.116.5.533
Subject(s) - medicine , sentinel lymph node , breast cancer , axillary lymph node dissection , lymphedema , biopsy , sentinel node , lymph node , lymphatic system , radiology , surgery , cancer , pathology
Sentinel Lymph node biopsy (SLNB) represents the standard approach in a newly diagnosed breast cancer for axillary staging in cases of clinical node negative. This represents a major prognostic factor and the biopsy of sentinel lymph node for early breast cancer is used as guidance in surgical and oncological treatment. Although for many decades, axillary lymph node dissection was the standard approach for breast cancer treatment and staging, this pathway was abandoned due to significant risk of lymphedema, infection, nerve and vessels injury or dysfunction of the shoulder. Therefore, significant improvement in the quality of life was seen for patients diagnosed with early breast cancer after SLNB was introduced as standard. The principle of SLNB is based on the hypothesis that tumor drains in the lymphatic system in an orderly manner and if the first lymphatic station is clear of disease, it is highly unlike that the tumor has spread further above. We present in our paper the indications with principles and difficulties in identification of sentinel node.