Technique du ganglion sentinelle dans les cancers du sein

A conservative approach of axillary lymph nodes is now possible in women with small breast cancer since a sentinel lymph node technique has been developed. The concept of this technique is to examine only one particular lymph node, called “sentinel node”, which reflects accurately the nodal status of the axillary region of the arm. To be detected, this node has to be specifically marked using a lymphophilic tracer (blue dye and/or isotopes). The main objective is to decrease upper extremity morbidity related to traditional axillary dissection. Long-term effects of this multidisciplinary technique that involves surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians, and pathologists, remain insufficiently evaluated. However, this promising procedure should significantly improve patients management, allowing a treatment specifically adapted to each case.