ABSTRACT
The surgical treatment of breast cancer is rapidly evolving. Some factors influ encing these changes include altered disease demographics, advances in technology, governmental and reimbursement controls, and increasing public expecta tions. The epidemiology of breast cancer as “baby boomers” turn 50 years o f age marks a dramatic rise in the prevalence o f breast cancer. Although the relative risk o f developing breast cancer has remained constant, the incidence of breast cancer is projected to increase from 185,000 new cases annually to 420,000 new cases annually over the next 20 years. Advances in surgical technology and the develop ment o f minimally invasive surgical techniques have heralded a new era in sur gery.3 The new technology of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for breast car cinoma, as with any other new surgical technique in this era, must meet the bur den of not only improved efficiency and reduced risk but also diminished cost and resource utilization.4 The added burden o f economic (reimbursement) pres sure and increased public expectations for better cancer therapies place additional scrutiny on surgeons utilizing these new techniques.
