This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kitajima, M. Articles by Kitagawa, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kitajima, M. Articles by Kitagawa, Y.

Universal Applications of Sentinel Node Technology

From the Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Masaki Kitajima, MD, Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160–8582, Japan; Fax: 81-3-3355-4707; E-mail: kitajima{at}sc.itc.keio.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

The sentinel node (SN) concept was originally proposed by several pioneers in the middle of the last century. After Donald Morton and his colleagues demonstrated the clinical significance of the SN concept in melanoma, it attracted vast attention in surgical oncology. At recent international conferences, a number of new approaches in this field for various solid tumors have been reported. Now, there are several possible applications with different technological aspects, such as individualized surgical management of solid tumors, multidisciplinary treatments, and novel therapeutic approaches. This article provides an overview of the future potential of SN technology.

Key Words: Individualization • Sentinel node • Solid tumor • Minimally invasive surgery