Factores predictivos de alta carga residual ganglionar axilar post biopsia de ganglio centinela positiva / Predictive factors of high residual burden in axillary lymph node after positive sentinel node biopsy

El estado axilar es un factor pronóstico para los estadios tempranos de cáncer de mama. Existen factores que podrían predecir riesgo de mayor enfermedad axilar. El objetivo es determinar cuáles son los factores predictivos independientes de alta carga residual ganglionar axilar (4 o más GNC comprometidos) luego de la BGC positiva. Estudio analítico, observacional, cohorte retrospectiva de pacientes con tumores T1-2, axila clínicamente negativa, a las que se les realizó cirugía conservadora (CC) y BGC con resultado positivo (marco o micrometástasis) y se les realizó posterior linfadenectomía axilar (LA). Del total de 325 pacientes, 96 tuvieron resultado positivo para metástasis en el ganglio centinela (29,5%) y también se les realizó LA. Se dividió a la población seleccionada en dos grupos según el compromiso de los GNC: baja carga axilar 0-3 GNC positivos, y alta carga axilar 4 o más GNC positivos. Se observaron como factores que demostraron mayor riesgo para alta carga axilar ganglionar residual al grado histológico, ki-67 y la invasión extracapsular en el GC; pero solamente la invasión extracapsular en el GC demostró ser significativa en el análisis multivariado. Probablemente con un mayor número de pacientes otras variables pudieran haber resultado factores de riesgo independiente

Axillary status is a prognostic factor for early stages of breast cáncer. There are predictive factors that might indicate the risk of greater axilary disease. The aim is to determine which are the independent predictive factor sor a high residual axillary nodal burden (four or more non-sentinel lymph nodes involved) after a positive sentinel node biopsy. Retrospective cohort analytic observational study of patients with T1-2 tumors, negative axilla, who underwent breast conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy with a positive result (macro ­ or micro-metastasis) and later underwent lymph node dissection. Out of the total 325 patients, 96 got a positive result for metástasis in the sentinel lymph node (29.5%) and also underwent lymph node dissection. The selected population was divided into two groups according to the involvement of NSLNs: low axillary burden: 0-3 NSLNs, and high axillary burden: 4 or more positive NSLNs. Among the factors found to have a higher risk of high residual axillary nodal burden were the histologic grade, Ki-67 and the extracapsular invasión of the SLN, but only the extracapsular invasión of the SLN was found to be significant in the multivariate analysis. It is likely that with a higher number of patients, other variables might have been independent risk factors

Progress in local treatment of breast cancer: A narrative review / Evolução do tratamento local do câncer de mama: Revisão narrativa

Abstract The present paper reports on the local treatment of breast cancer from a historical perspective. A search for articles written in English was made in the Medline and EMBASE databases, and 40 papers were selected. Over the past 10 years, various randomized, controlled clinical trials on the local treatment of breast cancer indicated that patients with the samemolecular subtypemay receive different individualized surgical treatments aimed atoptimizing systemic adjuvant therapy. With a view to retaining the gainsmade in diseasefree and overall survival, surgical techniques have advanced from radical surgery to conservative mastectomies, thus reducing sequelae, while adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies have contributed toward controlling the disease, both distant metastases and local recurrence. Current studies evaluate whether future breast cancer therapy may even succeed in eliminating surgery to the breast and axilla altogether.

Resumo Este artigo discute o tratamento local do câncer de mama a partir de uma perspectiva histórica. Uma busca de artigos publicados em inglês foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline e EMBASE, sendo selecionados 40 artigos. Nos últimos 10 anos, vários ensaios clínicos controlados e randomizados sobre o tratamento local do câncer de mama indicaram que pacientes com o mesmo subtipo molecular podem receber diferentes tratamentos cirúrgicos individualizados como objetivo de otimizar a terapia adjuvante sistêmica. Pretendendo reter os ganhos obtidos na sobrevida livre de doença e na sobrevida global, as técnicas cirúrgicas avançaram progressivamente da cirurgia radical para mastectomias conservadoras, reduzindo sequelas, enquanto as terapias adjuvantes e neoadjuvantes contribuíram para o controle da doença, tanto em relação às metástases distantes quanto à recorrência local. Estudos atuais avaliam se a terapia futura contra o câncer de mama poderá até mesmo eliminar a cirurgia da mama e da axila por completo.

Factores predictivos histológicos e inmunohistoquimícos de metástasis en ganglio no centinela en pacientes con cáncer de mama y ganglio centinela positivo / Histological and histochemical predicting factors of increased risk of metastatic compromise of non sentinel nodes, in patients with positive sentinel node biopsy

Introducción La biopsia del ganglio centinela (bgc) permite estadificar la axila en pacientes con cáncer de mama (cm) y axila clínicamente negativa. Mediante este procedimiento, se evita la linfadenectomía axilar en una proporción de pacientes. Sin embargo, frente a la positividad del ganglio centinela, una vez completada la linfadenectomía, un subgrupo de pacientes no tienen enfermedad residual en el resto de los ganglios axilares, definidos como ganglios no centinela. Objetivo Analizar los factores de predicción histológicos e inmunohistoquímicos de compromiso en ganglios no centinelas (gnc) en aquellas pacientes con bgc positiva seguida de linfadenectomía axilar, operadas por el Servicio de Patología Mamaria del Hospital Fernández en el período que transcurre entre enero de 1998 y marzo de 2016. Material y método Se realizaron 712 bgc entre los meses de enero de 1998 y marzo de 2016, en el Servicio de Patología Mamaria del Hospital Fernández. Del total, 140 resultaron positivas. Se analizó retrospectivamente la vinculación entre diversas características y la existencia de enfermedad axilar en gnc en 119 casos. Resultados Cuando la bgc resultó positiva, se encontró enfermedad en gnc en el 53,8% de los casos. El análisis univariable demostró correlación estadísticamente significativa entre presencia de metástasis en gnc y la presencia de 2 o más gc positivos, el tamaño tumoral mayor a 2 cm, el compromiso por macrometástasis del gc, la presencia del receptor her2 en el tumor y el alto grado mitótico y el compromiso de la cápsula ganglionar. Conclusiones Los factores independientes de compromiso de gnc son los siguientes: el alto grado mitótico, la presencia del receptor her2, la existencia de 2 o más gc positivos, el compromiso de la cápsula ganglionar.

Introduction The sentinel node biopsy can stage breast cancer patients with negative axillary lymph node examination. Using this procedure it is possible to avoid axillary lymph node dissection in some patients. However, when sentinel node biopsy results positive, once achieved the axillary node dissection, some patients do not have residual disease in the non sentinel nodes. Objective To study histological and histochemical predicting factors of increased risk of metastatic compromise of non sentinel nodes, in patients with positive sentinel node biopsy and subsequent axillary lymph node dissection, treated in the Breast Disease Division of Hospital Fernandez between January 1998 and March 2016. Materials and method Between January 1998 and March 2016, 712 patients underwent to node sentinel biopsy in the Breast Disease Division of Hospital Fernández. This study assessed, in a retrospective way, the association between the histological and histochemical predicting factors and non sentinel node disease in 119 cases. Results When sentinel node biopsy was positive, there was non sentinel lymph node metastasis in 53,8% of cases. The following variables were found to be potentially associated with non-sentinel node metastases in the univariated analysis: number of positive sentinel lymph node, size of the tumor, size of the metastasis in the sentinel lymph node, presence of her2 receptor in the tumor, high mitotic rate and extracapsular perinodal spread. Conclusions Independent factors for involvement of non sentinel nodes are: the high mitotic rate, the presence of her2 receptor in the tumor, the number of positive sentinel lymph nodes and the extracapsular perinodal spread.

Laparoscopic Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery for Gastric Cancer

Short-term surgical results of gastric cancer improve with use of a laparoscopic approach compared to those after conventional laparotomy, particularly in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). However, due to gastric resection and lymph node dissection, poor long-term quality of life (QOL) after gastric cancer surgery is equivalent between the approaches. Thus, gastric resection and lymph node dissection should be minimized to avoid injury to innervating nerves and the sphincter, to maintain gastric function, preserve gastric volume, and improve long-term QOL. Such a procedure should not impair the oncological outcome by removing the primary tumor and metastasis to lymph nodes. After analysis of the many single center feasibility studies, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is useful for this purpose but sensitivity varies and is unsatisfactory. A large multicenter Japanese feasibility study showed promising results after clinical application of SNB in patients with EGC. Based on those results, a multicenter prospective randomized phase III trial of laparoscopic SNB conducted by the Korean surgical study group, the SENORITA (SEntinel Node ORIented Tailored Approach), is now ongoing. Prior to this phase III trial, a quality control study of participating institutions was completed in an effort to standardize and overcome the SNB learning curve. Laparoscopic SNB with gastric volume and function-preserving surgery to improve the long-term QOL without impairing the oncological outcome may be a surgical option after this trial in the subgroup of patients with EGC.

Ganglio centineaa en melanoma de cara: abordaje inicaal / Sentinel ganglion in melanoma of the face: an initial approach

A pesar de las campañas preventivas no se ha logrado disminuir la incidencia de las neoplasias cutáneas, probablemente por las alteraciones de la capa de ozono, con el consecuente aumento de la radiación ultravioleta, por eso en países del trópico se presentan lesiones como el melanoma de piel, que es considerado como una de las lesiones tumorales más agresivas. La cara y el cuello son zonas del cuerpo con una alta exposición solar, reflejándose en un mayor número de casos de este sombrío tumor. El mayor factor pronóstico en contra de los pacientes que padecen esta enfermedad es la presencia de metástasis ganglionares, por eso el grupo tratante debe esclarecer si están presentes, debido a esto hace varias décadas se realizan disecciones de cuello profilácticas, pero en la mayoría de los casos los ganglios extirpados son negativos. Una posible solución para evitar esto, es la extracción del o de los primeros ganglios que drenan el sitio del tumor primario (Ganglio Centinela). En el área de cabeza y cuello usualmente están presentes varios a la vez, lo que dificulta tomar la decisión de cuál extirpar. En nuestro grupo hemos iniciado la estandarización de esta técnica, y como abordaje inicial se realizó el primer caso de una paciente con melanoma de la cara a quien se practicó resección local amplia del tumor y extracción de los centinelas marcados por linfogammagrafía y a la vez disección de los relevos ganglionares positivos para drenaje demostrados por este estudio de medicina nuclear.

In spite of preventative campaigns having been mounted, it still has not been possible to reduce cutaneous neoplasia incidence, probably due to alterations in the ozone layer. This has led to a consequent increase in ultraviolet radiation and thus lesions occurring in tropical countries such as skin cancer (melanoma), considered as being one of the most aggressive tumour lesions. The face and neck are the body areas having the highest exposure to the sun, being reflected in a greater number of such tumour cases. The presence of ganglion metastasis is the greatest negative prognostic factor for patients suffering from this disease; the treating group must thus clarify whether this is present as prophylactic neck dissections were made several decades ago, but the ganglions so removed were negative in most cases. Extracting the first ganglions draining the primary tumour site (sentinel ganglion) represents a possible solution for avoiding this. Several of them are usually present at the same time in the head and neck area, thereby hampering taking a decision as to which should be removed. Our group has begun to standardise such technique; an initial approach has involved the first case of a patient with melanoma of the face who underwent wide local resection of the tumour and extraction of the sentinel ganglions. These were dyed and lymphogammagraphy was used, at the same time as dissection of positive ganglion relief for drainage, as demonstrated by this nuclear medicine study.

Lymphatic drainage in thyroid cancer and discussion of research methods / 国际外科学杂志

Thyroid cancer spreads predominantly via the lymphatics to the local draining lymph nodes.This is a review about it.We also report about the role of sentinel node biopsy in thyroid cancer.

Biopsia del ganglio centinela en el melanoma: camino a la desaparición / Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma: bound to disappear

La biopsia del ganglio centinela continúa siendo utilizada para la terapéutica del melanoma, sin fundamento científico comprobado. Los estudios prospectivos-randomizados han fracasado en demostrar beneficio alguno en el punto clave de los mismos, conocer si aumenta la sobrevida global del paciente con melanoma invasor. Se revisan algunos trabajos que demuestran que el punto de vista contrario a su uso rutinario, es el correcto con el fin de ofrecer al dermatólogo, amplitud de criterio en el momento de discutir con el paciente dicho estudio.

Sentinel node biopsy and selective lymph node dissection are still a frequent tool for therapeutic management of melanoma without scientific support. Prospective-randomized trials have failed to show overall survival - the main goal in such trials in invasive melanoma. Some articles proving that the opposite point of view to its standard use is correct have been reviewed, in order to offer to the dermatologist the different alternatives so as to discuss such procedures with amplitude of criteria at the time of discussing such procedure with the potential patient.

The Predictors of Tumor Invasion for Patients with an Initial Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in situ and the Indications for Performing Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

PURPOSE: The diagnostic methods for examining suspicious lesions in the breast are becoming less invasive, like core-needle biopsy. Yet, the risk of invasion has been reported to be up to 47% for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) initially diagnosed by core-needle biopsy. The value of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for DCIS has not been clearly proved. We searched for the factors associated with invasiveness of preoperatively diagnosed DCIS, and we determined the indications for performing SLNB for patients with preoperatively diagnosed DCIS. METHODS: Between October 1997 and December 2008, we retrospectively reviewed 135 patients with DCIS that was initially diagnosed by core-needle biopsy or other biopsy methods. We compared the invasive breast cancer group, which was finally diagnosed with the pure DCIS group in regards to clinical, radiological, and pathological factors. RESULTS: 21.5% of the patients with initial diagnosis of DCIS were finally diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. On univariate analysis, the statistically meaningful factors for invasiveness were palpable lesion (P<0.0001), core-needle diagnosis (P=0.007), large tumor size (P=0.028), high nuclear grade (P=0.002), and negative estrogen receptor (P=0.005). On multivariate analysis, a palpable lesion was the only independent risk factor (odds ratio 3.9 (1.1 to 13.8); P=0.035). Axillar lymph node metastases were found in three patients in the invasive cancer group. There was no lymph node metastasis in the DCIS group. CONCLUSION: We recommend that SLNB be considered in initially diagnosed DCIS with palpable lesion or high nuclear grade due to the high risk of invasiveness.

Methylene blue for sentinel lymph node localisation in breast cancer surgery: Experience of RIPAS Hospital

Introduction Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is a standard procedure in the management of breast cancer for diagnosis of axillary node metastasis and for local control. The aim of this study was to investigate the ease and the effectiveness of using methylene blue dye in the localisation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) and biopsy (SLNB) in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer at RIPAS Hospital. Materials and Methods Twenty-five patients with confirmed fine needle aspiration cytological diagnosis of breast cancer, who were undergoing planned mastectomy and axillary node clearance, were included in the study. Four to five milliliters of methylene blue dye was injected into the peri-tumour area 20 to 30 minutes preoperatively before surgical incision was made. All SLNs were submitted for intra-operative frozen section analysis. All patients underwent mastectomy and Level II axillary clearance. Results Methylene blue dye staining and localisation of SLNs were positive in 22 (88%) patients, out of which 10 (45.45%) patients had SLN which were positive for metastasis. In three patients (12%), the dye failed to reach the axilla with one patient having micro-metastasis in the axillary lymph nodes. The mean duration to SLN harvesting was 20 min (range 15 to 25 min) after injection of the methylene blue. Complications included blue discolouration of urine (28%), post-operative fever (4%), tattooing near the scar (4%) and a small area of skin necrosis near the scar (4%). Conclusions In our setting, SLNB using methylene blue dye is also an effective method for accurately identifying SLNs in breast cancer patients and provide an accurate pathological staging without having to do a formal axillary clearance.

Intraparenchymal Methylene Blue Injection for Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer Patients does not Interfere with the Pulse Oximetry Readings / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Alteration in oxygen saturation is a side effect of the dye used in sentinel lymph node biopsy. The object of this study was to determine the possible effects of methylene blue on the oxygen saturation in patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy. METHODS: The complete peroperative records of 148 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy with intraparenchymal injection of methylene blue were reviewed. The data reviewed included the preinjection pulse oximeter saturation readings and the postinjection values until the readings returned to the preoperative levels in the postanesthesia care unit. RESULTS: The pulse oximetry values were recorded preoperatively, after intubation and, at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes of the operation. The results showed that methylene blue did not cause any significant changes in oxygen saturation levels. CONCLUSION: We suggest that methylene blue might be preferable for the patients with concomitant disease, and for whom close monitoring of their oxygen saturation is required.

Morbidade entre a pós-biópsia de linfonodo sentinela e a dissecção axilar no câncer de mama / Morbidity after sentinel node biopsy and axillary dissection in breast cancer

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a morbidade cirúrgica pós-biópsia de linfonodo sentinela (BLS) ou dissecção axilar com (DA-NP) e sem preservação do nervo intercostobraquial (DA-NS). MÉTODOS: Fez-se estudo coorte prospectivo com 108 pacientes divididas em três grupos: BLS (n=35), DA-NP (n=36) e DA-NS (n=37). Foram avaliadas ocorrência de déficit sensorial, dor, linfedema, seroma e infecção no membro superior homolateral à cirurgia. Monofilamentos de Semmes-Weinstein foram usados para avaliar o déficit sensorial, perimetria braquial foi feita para avaliação da presença de linfedema e aplicado questionário de dor. Para análise estatística foram utilizados os testes ANOVA e Kruskal-Wallis. Foi feita análise bivariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: Pelo menos uma complicação pós-cirúrgica, imediata ou tardia, ocorreu em 45/108 (41,7 por cento) pacientes avaliadas. A complicação mais comum foi dor. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os três grupos somente quanto ao déficit sensorial (p=0,04). Dor, linfedema e déficit sensorial ocorreram com maior freqüência no grupo DA-NS. As pacientes dos grupos BLS e DA-NP não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas. A pesquisa com os monofilamentos mostrou sensibilidade cutânea preservada em 28/35 pacientes do grupo BLS, em 25/36 pacientes do grupo DA-NP e em 10/37 pacientes do grupo DA-NS (p<0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A secção do nervo está relacionada a maior déficit sensorial havendo diferença estatisticamente significante entre os três grupos, o que não demonstrou ser significante com os demais critérios avaliados dentre os grupos analisados.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity after sentinel node biopsy (SNB) and axillary dissection with (AD-NS) or without sparing the intercostobrachial nerve (AD-NOS). Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed on 108 patients divided into three groups: SNB (n=35), AD-NS (n=36) and AD-NOS (n=37). We evaluated the incidence of sensory loss, pain, lymphedema, seroma formation and infection in the arm homolateral to the breast surgery. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used to assess the sensory loss; brachial perimetry was used to evaluate presence of lymphedema and a pain questionnaire was administered. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests were used. Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: After surgery at least one complication was reported by 45/108 (41.7 percent) patients. Pain was the outcome more often reported by patients. In the three groups a significant difference was observed only regarding sensory loss (p=0.04). Pain, lymphedema, and sensory loss were more frequently found in the AD-NOS group. No significant difference was observed between SNB and AD-NS groups. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments showed preservation of cutaneous sensitivity in 28/35 patients from the SNB group, in 25/36 patients from AD-NS group but in only 10/37 patients from AD-NOS group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The ICB section is associated with higher sensory loss, with statistically significant difference between the groups that were not shown to be significant with the others complications.

Rol de la linfadenectomía en el manejo quirúrgico del cáncer de piel / Role of lymphadenectomy in the surgical management of skin cancer

El estado de los ganglios que drenan el tumor primario permanece como el más potente predictor de supervivencia y recurrencia en los pacientes con melanoma, los otros factores predictores de las metástasis ganglionares no han reemplazado la resección quirúrgica y el examen histopatológico como el más preciso método para la identificación de diseminación de la enfermedad. Debido a que el ganglio centinela es el primer sitio de drenaje ganglionar, su estado tumoral puede ser usado como predictor del estado tumoral de los restantes ganglios del vaciamiento regional, por lo tanto, su detallado análisis histopatológico y molecular proporciona una información más precisa del estadiaje que el examen patológico de rutina de numerosos ganglios removidos al azar. Esta información identifica a los pacientes quienes se benefician de la completa linfadenectomía, la cual es la única opción terapéutica efectiva para el control local y cura potencial. La actual controversia se mantiene respecto a si el mapeo linfático y la biopsia de ganglio centinela es un procedimiento diagnóstico o una intervención terapéutica. El siguiente trabajo nos permitirá evidenciar el rol de la linfadenectomía en el melanoma, particularmente a la luz de los ensayos clínicos en curso

The disease status of the tumor-draining regional lymph node remains the most important predictor of survival and recurrence in patients with melanoma; others predictor factors of nodal metastases do not have to replace surgical resection and histopathologic examination as the most accurate method for assessing spread of disease to the lymph nodes. Because the sentinel lymph node is the first nodal drainage site, its tumor status can be used to predict the tumor status of the remaining nodes in the regional draining; furthermore, its detailed histopathological and molecular analysis provides far more accurate staging information than standard pathological assessment of the numerous nodes randomly removed. This assessment identifies patients who may benefit from a completion lymphadenectomy which is the only effective therapeutic option for local control and potential cure. Current controversy remains regarding whether lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy is a diagnostic procedure or a therapeutic intervention. This study allows us to reflect the role of lymphadenectomy in melanoma, particularly at light on ongoing clinical trials

Mapeo linfático y biopsia del ganglio centinela en pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide cutáneo de alto riesgo / Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with high risk squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Introducción: Un subgrupo de pacientes con carcinoma epidermoide cutáneo (CEC) tiene alto riesgo de presentar metástasis ganglionares regionales. El mapeo linfático y biopsia del ganglio centinela (MLBGC) ha sido exitosamente utilizado para evaluar la presencia de metástasis ganglionares subclínicas en diversos tumores. bjetivo: Evaluar la utilidad de la técnica del MLBGC en los pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo para detectar la presencia de metástasis ganglionares regionales subclínicas. Material y métodos: De enero 2002 a marzo 2004, un total de 20 pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo con ganglios linfáticos regionales clínicamente no palpables fue evaluado con linfografía preoperatoria y MLBGC. Resultados: En 1 de cada 5 pacientes (20 %), el ganglio centinela reveló la presencia de micrometástasis. Ningún paciente con GC negativo manifestó progresión tumoral ganglionar regional durante un seguimiento medio de 23.5 meses (rango de 7 a 44 meses). Conclusiones: El MLBGC fue técnicamente posible con baja morbilidad. El MLBGC puede tener un importante papel en el tratamiento de los pacientes con CEC de alto riesgo con ganglios linfáticos regionales no palpables. Esta técnica puede ayudar a identificar los pacientes con metástasis en los ganglios linfáticos regionales que pueden beneficiarse de una disección ganglionar radical. Además provee importante información para utilizar terapias adyuvantes a la cirugía.

BACKGROUND: Some sub-groups of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) display a higher risk for regional metastasis. Sentinel lymph node staging has been used successfully to evaluate nodal metastasis in selective tumors. OBJECTIVE: Assess the feasibility of sentinel node to detect occult regional lymph node metastasis in high-risk CSCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and March 2004, a total of 20 patients received pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymphadenectomy for high-risk CSCC with clinically non-palpable regional lymph nodes. RESULTS: In one of each 5 patients (20%), sentinel lymph node showed histological evidence of microinvolvement. No patients with negative sentinel node showed tumor dissemination during follow-up, with a mean of 23.5 months (range 7-44). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is technically feasible with low morbidity. Sentinel lymphadenectomy may play an important role in the management of high-risk CSCC with clinically non-palpable regional lymph nodes. This technique can help identify patients with regional lymph node metastases who may benefit from complete lymphadenectomy. This improved staging may allow clinicians to better stratify patients who might benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Validation and Controversy of Sentinel Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

Sentinel node biopsy has become a promising technique to accurately stage breast cancer patients with less morbidity than axillary lymph node dissection. However, many problems remain, such as the ideal injection technique, agents, and histological detection of sentinel node metastases, and they must be addressed before sentinel node biopsy becomes the standard for the care of breast cancer patients. The results of ongoing large clinical trials will provide clues to solve these problems. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding confirmation of the sentinel node hypothesis and the controversy of sentinel node biopsy.