Which technique is often used to minimize the number of lymph nodes removed during breast cancer evaluation?

Sentinel node mapping is a technique used to identify the first lymph node or nodes that drain lymph from a cancerous breast tumor. By doing so, it helps to determine if cancer has spread to the lymphatic system without needing to remove multiple lymph nodes, which can lead to a variety of complications, including lymphedema.

The key advantage of sentinel node mapping lies in its ability to accurately assess the status of lymph nodes while minimizing the surgical intervention involved. This technique typically involves injecting a radioactive substance or a dye around the tumor, which then travels to the sentinel lymph nodes. Surgeons can then only remove these specific nodes for evaluation, rather than performing a full axillary lymph node dissection, which would involve removing a larger number of nodes.

In contrast to other techniques like fine needle aspiration, open biopsy, or core biopsy, which primarily focus on obtaining tissue samples from the tumor for diagnosis, sentinel node mapping specifically targets the surgical evaluation of lymphatic involvement. This distinction makes it the preferred technique for minimizing lymph node removal during breast cancer evaluation, thus aiding in preserving more functional lymphatic tissue.