Omitting the sentinel lymph node biopsy: a region’s perspective following recommendations from the SOUND trial

Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England 2026 Open access

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Authors: R Lowe, S Das Gupta, A Leiss, A Frank, D Banfield, R Llewellyn-Bennett, D Egbeare, A Hunter-Smith, L Crocker, H Mills
DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2026.0014
Cited by: 1
References: 4

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) remains the standard of care for axillary staging in early breast cancer (BC). However, its associated morbidity has prompted interest in de-escalating axillary surgery. The SOUND and INSEMA trials demonstrated that patients with small tumours and negative preoperative axillary imaging could safely omit SLNB without compromising outcomes. METHODS: This multicentre retrospective study evaluated whether SLNB influenced treatment decisions in our region in patients aged 70 years and above with small, invasive BC (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Breast Cancer Treatment Studies Breast Implant and Reconstruction Breast Lesions and Carcinomas

Publication details

Journal / source
Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publisher
Royal College of Surgeons of England
Publication date
19 May 2026
Language
EN