Sentinel-Lymph-Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer — Is It Obsolete?
Monica Morrow
Abstract
The role of axillary surgery in the management of breast cancer has changed. Sentinel-lymph-node biopsy is used to identify nodal metastases, but recognition of the lack of therapeutic benefit of this approach, coupled with the emphasis on tumor biology for decisions about systemic therapy, has led to trials examining the elimination of sentinel-lymph-node biopsy in early-stage breast cancer. Two trials involving clinically node-negative patients with breast cancer treated without axillary surgery have now provided outcome data: Reimer et al. present in the Journal results from the INSEMA (Intergroup Sentinel Mamma) trial, 1 and data from the SOUND (Sentinel Node versus Observation . . .
Topics & Concepts
Stage (stratigraphy)Sentinel lymph nodeMedicineBreast cancerBiopsySentinel nodeLymph nodeRadiologyOncologyGeneral surgeryCancerInternal medicineBiologyPaleontologyBreast Cancer Treatment StudiesBreast Lesions and CarcinomasCancer Genomics and Diagnostics