Sentinel nodes in breast carcinoma

: The authors summarize literary data on contemporary knowledge and development of views regarding lymphadenectomy in breast cancer. They deal also with the history and technique of detection of a sentinel node by Patentblau and radioisotope 99mTc. In a group of 29 patients operated in 1998-1999 with a detected sentinel node they analyze the surgical technique and present their initial results. In the group they extirpated and examined a total of 354 axillary nodes, i.e. on average 12.2 nodes per patient. Eleven times the nodes were positive, incl. the sentinel node. This number comprised six cases where the sentinel node only was affected. In 16 cases all axillary nodes were negative. In two instances the sentinel node was falsely negative. These results are thus quite comparable with those from reknown departments concerned with sentinel nodes. Examination of the sentinel node very probably determines the affection of axillary nodes and the patient's prognosis. Unnecessary dissection of the axilla with subsequent associated complications can thus be avoided.