Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

special situations in clinical practice

Abstract

The sentinel lymph node biopsy is an accepted procedure at a national and international level to study the axillary status of patients with early-stage breast cancer. However there are some special situations that create some doubts about the better way to diagnostic and to threat it. In the last years we have seen a greatest interest in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and in the manner how to use it in some special situations like ductal carcinoma in situ, when there is migration to internal mammary lymph nodes, breast cancer and pregnancy, during prophylactic mastectomy and systemic therapy before surgery (preoperative chemotherapy). There are several prospective studies going on, with the intent to determine the ideal treatment for these special situations. While these results are not published, we must be aware of the better way to treat them. This article tries to show, in an easy and clear way, what have been published recently about these situations.