What do systematic reviews say?

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

Sentinel node biopsy may leads to lower paraesthesia compared with full axillary surgery (low certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.15 [0.09, 0.23]
  2 studies · 495 participants
  Low

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

Sentinel node biopsy may leads to lower pain compared with full axillary surgery (low certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.44 [0.3, 0.67]
  2 studies · 877 participants
  Low

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

Sentinel node biopsy probably leads to lower numbness compared with full axillary surgery (moderate certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.43 [0.34, 0.54]
  3 studies · 1799 participants
  Moderate

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

Sentinel node biopsy showed no clear difference in all‐cause mortality compared with full axillary surgery (moderate certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 1.05 [0.89, 1.25]
  3 studies · 6352 participants
  Moderate

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

Sentinel node biopsy may leads to lower lymphoedema Patient‐reported lymphoedema of any severity compared with full axillary surgery (low certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.33 [0.15, 0.86]
  3 studies · 815 participants
  Low

Sentinel node biopsy vs full axillary surgery

It is very uncertain whether sentinel node biopsy changes subjective arm movement impairment compared with full axillary surgery (very low certainty).

• Axillary treatment for operable primary breast cancer 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.38 [0.22, 0.67]
  2 studies · 877 participants
  Very low

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Recurrence: Garrel 2020 reported that the number of patients with recurrences in both arms was almost identical; unable to use the data (variable follow-up); 279 participants (1 RCT).
  1 study · 279 participants
  Very low

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) showed no clear difference in locoregional recurrence compared with elective neck dissection (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  HR 1.04 [0.91, 1.19]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Low

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse events: no adverse events were reported (Garrel 2020).
  1 study · 279 participants
  Very low

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) showed no clear difference in total mortality compared with elective neck dissection (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  HR 1.00 [0.90, 1.11]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Low

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) vs Elective neck dissection

Sentinel node biopsy (neck dissection only if biopsy positive) showed no clear difference in disease-free survival (new disease, progression, and mortality) compared with elective neck dissection (low certainty).

• Interventions for the treatment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers: surgical treatment 2023 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 years
  HR 0.98 [0.90, 1.07]
  1 study · 279 participants
  Low