Axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy after mastectomy: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been established as the preferred method for staging early breast cancer. A prior history of mastectomy is felt to be a contraindication. Case presentation A patient with recurrent breast cancer in her skin flap was discovered to have positive axillary sentinel nodes by sentinel lymph node biopsy five years after mastectomy for ductal carcinoma in situ. Conclusion A prior history of mastectomy may not be an absolute contraindication to sentinel lymph node biopsy.