The Significance Of Sentinel Lymph Node Micrometastasis

The status of sentinel lymph node is one of the most important indicators of prognosis for breast cancer patients,and it directs the regional axillary treatment as well.With the application of novel testing methods(fast immunohistochemistry,flow cytometry,RT-PCR etc),more and more micrometastasis cases have been revealed,meanwhile its significance remains debatable,which brings much doubt on the current treatments of it.Though most studies recommand handling it with sentinel lymph node biopsy instead of axillary dissection,those conclusions still need further validation.Author of this article makes a summary of the clinical significance of sentinel lymph node micrometastasis in breast cancer after reviewing recent researches on it.