What Is the Role and Impact of the Sentinel Node Sampling Technique in Breast Cancer Staging?

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy were initially developed for nodal staging in the malignant melanoma population. Morton and colleagues developed a procedure that permits intraoperative identification of the sentinel lymph node, the first node in the lymphatic basin from which the primary tumor drains. If that sentinel node is negative for metastatic disease, the remaining nodes in the lymphatic basin are also likely to be negative.