The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients after primary systemic therapy

Aims: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in SLN negative patients is a standard of care for most breast cancer patients. SLNB for axillary staging after primary systemic therapy (PST) is still contraindicated due to possibly reduced accuracy, while data are lacking. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of SLNB after PST. Material and methods: 185 breast cancer patients were treated with PST, 160 patients received preoperative chemotherapy and 25 patients received preoperative endocrine therapy. 143/160 patients with preoperative chemotherapy and 22/25 pa…