Pre-masectomy sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) : a useful strategy in conjunction with immediate breast reconstruction.

Abstract

In patients undergoing management with immediate reconstruction, knowledge of the pathological status of the axillary nodes is valuable. It allows appropriate surgical treatment of the axilla to take place at the time of Mx/reconstruction if required, without reliance on potentially inaccurate frozen section, thereby avoiding a possibly technically difficult reoperation which may compromise the newly reconstructed breast. In addition, knowledge of nodal status may, by predicting the likelihood of post Mx XRT, influence the preferred type of reconstructive method.