Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) have for centuries been recognized as reliable and effective filters of foreign material, including tumor cells. Since the mid-20th century, this principle has been applied to oncologic care through sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), which detects and quantifies the extent of regional metastasis. First pioneered in parotid tumors, the technique has since expanded to many branches of oncology including breast, melanoma, head and neck, gastrointestinal, and gynecologic tumors. Across these varied pathologies, SLNB has repeatedly demonstrated non-inferiority to traditionally more extensive lymphatic dissections, which are associated with higher rates of infectious, lymphatic, and neuropathic complications. In an era of ever increasing management options, this technique also provides prognostic and predictive information key to therapeutic selection. This paper reviews the history of the practice of SLNB and its evolution over the decades in a number of oncologic disciplines.
Key words: Sentinel lymph node biopsy, scintigraphy, breast cancer, melanoma, oncology.
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