Sentinel node biopsy for Ca breast is for
*Sentinel lymph nodes: Lymph nodes where the lymphatics drain first from a primary tumorSentinel lymph node biopsy can be identified by radiotracer or colored dyes. If the sentinel node is negative for metastasis, it is unlikely that other more distant nodes will be involved and the patient can be spared the morbidity (like lymphedema) of complete axillary dissection.Ref: Robbins 8/e p1089
Early diagnosis of cancer
For staging the tumours
Frozen section
Occult disease detection
Breast