Sentinel node mapping for breast cancer: progress to date and prospects for the future.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is indicated for women with small invasive breast cancers and clinically negative nodes. SNB indications are being expanded to larger breast tumors, some cases of ductal carcinoma in situ and selected clinically suspicious nodes. Because SNB has fewer and less severe complications than axillary lymph node dissection, physicians are exploring more ways it can be used to improve breast cancer treatment. The future of SNB includes resolution of the optimal timing of SNB in relation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the results of NSABP B-32 and ACOSOG Z10 and Z11. SNB has become the new standard of care for the treatment of early breast cancer.