SNAC1:A randomised trial of sentinel node based management versus axillary clearance for women with small breast cancers

SNAC1比较了两种评估早期乳腺癌患者肿瘤是否扩散到淋巴结的手术：腋窝清扫和前哨淋巴结活检。腋窝清除包括去除腋窝的大部分淋巴结。在前哨淋巴结活检中，只有少数与乳腺癌最密切相关的淋巴结被切除。该试验将确定前哨淋巴结活检是否能减少淋巴水肿并获得同等治愈率。如果是这样，那么它应该成为标准做法。

SNAC1 compares two operations for assessing cancer spread to the lymph nodes in women with early breast cancer: 1) axillary clearance and 2)sentinel node biopsy. Axillary clearance involves removal of most lymph nodes in the armpit. In sentinel node biopsy only a few lymph nodes most closely related to the breast cancer are removed. The trial will determine if sentinel node biopsy reduces lymphoedema and gives equivalent cure rates. If it does, then it should become standard practice.