Sentinel Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer: An Update

A consensus update of the 2014 guidelines for sentinel node biopsy in early-stage breast cancer

Approving/Endorsing Organization: American Society of Clinical Oncology

Target Population: Surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, oncology nurses

Background and Objective

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) has been the standard of practice in the U.S. for clinical node-negative breast cancer since 2005 and more recently for documented node-positive disease after neoadjuvant systemic therapy. This consensus update of the 2014 recommendation provides current guidelines for SNB in early-stage breast cancer.

Key Recommendations

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients without sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases is not indicated.
In most circumstances, patients with only one or two metastatic SLNs planning to under…

Reviewing Author

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)