ABSTRACT
Indications Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy are indicated for axillary nodal staging
in patients with invasive breast carcinoma and a clinically negative axilla. In patients who have received neoadjuvant systemic therapy, sentinel node biopsy can be performed either prior to the initiation of systemic therapy or following its completion, at the time of definitive surgical treatment. If suspicious axillary lymphadenopathy is present at diag nosis however, the accuracy of sentinel node biopsy is suboptimal and Level I-II axillary dissection is advised. The same is true in patients with inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. Sentinel node staging may also be indicated in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed by core needle biopsy when the likelihood of microscopic invasion in the excision specimen is high (e.g., palpable DCIS and large DCIS lesions).
