How to avoid the uncertainties of intraoperative examination of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer?

Abstract

Numerous researchers have confirmed the diagnostic relevance of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) examination in breast carcinoma. Many technical problems are analyzed which are correlated with the intraoperative examination of the SLN and its sensitivity and specificity. In order to avoid the incidence of false positive or false negative intraoperative diagnoses, the authors propose the examination of SLN under local anesthesia, awaiting its definitive analysis before carrying out tumorectomy and/or axillary lymphadenectomy.