Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Axillary Lymphadenectomy in Patients Treated with Lumpectomy: An Analysis of Short-Term Outcomes

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been shown to reduce many of the long-term complications associated with a traditional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND); however, short-term outcomes have yet to be characterized. This study was designed to identify trends and differences in 30-day outcomes of partial mastectomy with concurrent SLNB or complete ALND to more effectively determine which patients may be at risk for perioperative complications.