[Sentinel lymph node biopsy as a new approach to colorectal cancer treatment]

Some concepts considering sentinel lymph node excision in colon and rectal carcinoma are presented in the paper. Arguments pro and contra were exposed and interpret separately. The problem is still open. Current knowledge indicates that lymphatic system in colon and rectum can be very different in many patients. There is no evidence that sentinel node biopsy in this group can be useful. In patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (T3, T4 according to TNM classification) sentinel node biopsy cannot replace regional lymph node dissection. Sentinel lymph node biopsy and localization of metastases allows to change the qualification of the NO patients to N1 (upstaging). This means the change of cancer staging in these patients and qualification to chemotherapy. In conclusion we underline that there is still too little knowledge to implement these procedures in clinical practice, that problem needs more consideration.