Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients treated with induction chemotherapy should be performed after the completion of chemotherapy

Abstract

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with early breast cancer treated with breast conserving therapy is currently a standard treatment. SLN biopsy allows to resign from the resection of the axillary lymph nodes and thus, to reduce the risk of complications and to improve the quality of life of the patients. The objective of preoperative chemotherapy is to decrease the scope of surgery both within the primary focus of the tumour and in the axillary lymph nodes. The results of the research carried out so far indicate that SLN biopsy, after a preoperative chemotherapy in patients at the N0 and N1–2 clinical stage is credible and in allows many of them to avoid the resection of axillary lymph nodes. Therefore there are rational arguments justifying SLN biopsy after the completion of preoperative chemotherapy.