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Updated: Apr 24, 2026
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping and Biopsy for Endometrial Cancer at Early Stage with Laparoscopy
Published on: August 19, 2021
Surgeon bias in sentinel lymph node dissection: Do tumor characteristics influence decision making?
Kristin A Robinson1, Barbara A Pockaj1, Nabil Wasif1
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85054, United States.
Background:
Determining sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer staging involves subjective interpretation by the surgeon. We hypothesized patient and tumor characteristics influence number of SLNs harvested.
Methods:
A single-institution, prospectively collected database was queried for breast cancer patients undergoing SLN surgery (2002-2013) and mean SLN counts were compared.
Results:
There were 2394 SLN biopsies. Mean number of SLNs per patient for the entire cohort was 2.6. Mean number of SLNs removed was greater for patients ≤50 years (2.9 versus 2.6; p < 0.0001). Fewer SLNs were removed with tumors ≤1 cm (2.5 versus 2.6; p = 0.002). Patients with grades 2 or 3 tumors had more SLNs removed than grade 1 (2.6 versus 2.5; p = 0.03). Receipt of neoadjuvant therapy was associated with more SLNs removed (3.0 versus 2.6; p = 0.005).
Conclusion:
Number of SLNs removed varies based on risk factors for SLN metastasis or false-negative SLN biopsy.
