Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Beyond melanoma and breast carcinoma

Abstract

In this issue of Cancer, two groups of investigators present their initial experience with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the staging of sweat gland carcinomas. The reports suggest that it is possible to identify clinically occult lymph node metastases from sweat gland carcinoma using SLN biopsy similar to the way that surgeons around the world now routinely stage the regional lymph nodes in patients with melanoma and breast carcinoma. These two articles raise the question of when does it make sense to apply SLN biopsy to cases beyond melanoma and breast carcinoma?