Sentinel node biopsy in private practice

The experience of a French team of associated doctors (the “SaintAgatha Circle”), in setting up sentinel node biopsy for breast canceris reported here.There is a constant focus on quality excellence at each step of theprocedure.The feasibility of the procedure, in first-rate conditions despite thedistance of nuclear medicine facilities, is demonstrated.This technique requires a “learning curve” for all members of theteam (nuclear specialists, surgeons, pathologists), who togetherconstitute a real “sentinel process group”.The technique is routinely performed in many public and privatecentres, but has not been validated up to now and still includesareas of doubt.The question is whether therapeutic trials have to be brought to aconclusion before the technique can be offered to patients presentingsmall tumours, thereby avoiding the trauma of axillary excision,knowing that it is most of the time negative?