Improving quality of life with sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients – An overview

Abstract

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a less invasive alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for staging breast cancer (BC), offering significant reductions in morbidity. This review assesses the impact of SLNB on the quality-of-life (QoL) in BC patients compared to ALND. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed. The search phrase “(Breast cancer) AND (Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy) AND (Quality of life)” identified studies comparing SLNB and ALND. A total of eight studies were included in the final analysis. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis diagram illustrates the selection process. Results: The review found that SLNB is associated with significantly reduced rates of lymphedema and arm morbidity. Patients treated with SLNB reported better QoL scores in emotional functioning, pain management, and physical mobility compared to those treated with ALND. Conclusion: SLNB offers substantial benefits over ALND in terms of reducing post-operative complications and enhancing QoL in BC patients. These findings support the integration of SLNB into routine surgical management for eligible patients, emphasizing long-term patient welfare and functional outcomes.