Breast

Sentinel Node Biopsy (Breast)

SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY (BREAST)

Indication: Axillary staging in clinically node-negative early breast carcinoma. Avoids full axillary lymph node dissection and its associated morbidity when the sentinel node is negative. Standard of care for invasive breast carcinoma with clinically uninvolved axilla.

Patient Position: Supine, ipsilateral arm extended.

Anaesthesia: General.

Pre-operative: Periareolar or peri-tumoural injection of radiolabelled technetium-99m colloid (and/or patent blue V dye) 2–4 hours pre-operatively. Lymphoscintigraphy may be obtained.

Procedure:
1. Gamma probe used to identify the axillary zone of maximum radioactivity pre-incision.