The sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has revolutionized the management of breast cancer. Since October 1995, when we first applied the SLNB for treatment of breast cancer, it has quickly become the standard of care for the management of breast cancer in Korea. Herein we provide preliminary nation-wide data on the use of SLNB.

51 breast surgeons at 47 hospitals throughout Korea were surveyed and 33 breast surgeons answered. Questionnaires including 20 items were used to solicit information on the indications, methods, application patterns of SLNB, including the other surgical issues. The answers from 33 breast surgeons were used for the analysis.

Twenty-six of the 33 surgeons were applying SLNB for breast cancer. 11 surgeons have been applying SLNB more than 2 years. The most common indications for the SLNB were (1) no suggested axillary lymph node metastasis and (2) tumor size less than 3 cm. According to the detection methods, radioisotope tracer only was used in 38.5%, dye only in 26.9% and combination of radioisotope trace with dye in 34.6%. The most preferred dye was isosulfan blue followed by methylene blue. The most preferred radioisotope tracers were 99mTc-tin colloid and 99mTc-antimony. The most favorable injection site was subareolar area. Most surgeons performed frozen section biopsies after SLNB. Many surgeons agreed to accreditation after 20 learning cases.

SLNB becomes the standard of treatments for breast cancer in Korea. A systematic education program for SLNB is required.