FACULTY COMMENTS

DR WHITWORTH: The performance of SLNB after neoadjuvant therapy is a recent trend among surgical investigators. The timing of SLNB is a complex issue. The initial question was whether SLNB was accurate after neoadjuvant therapy.

Was it possible to sterilize disease in the sentinel node, but not another node, and derive an incorrect answer? In 2005 and 2006, studies began to demonstrate that SLNB was accurate in this setting, particularly in the studies performed by the NSABP. So accuracy is not an issue.

The second question is more problematic and is particularly vexing for radiation oncologists: How do we know how many nodes were positive and who should receive postmastectomy radiation therapy? Is SLNB after neoadjuvant therapy suppressing information that is critically important to treatment decision-making?

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Editor's Note
State of the art 2008
Neil Love, MD

Slides and Faculty Comments

Sentinel Lymph Node Biospy (LSNB) Relative to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

Sentinel Node Biopsy Injection Site

Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI)

Genomic Assays: Prediction of Benefit from Chemotherapy

Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Assessment of Her2 Status

- Select Publications

A CME Audio Series and Activity

Faculty Disclosures

Editor's Office