Abstract: Objective To investigate the application value of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB) replacing axillary lymph node dissection （ALND）in breast cancer. Methods Forty-eight breast cancer patients treated with SLNB alone were analyzed，which were compared to 73 cases with SLN without ALND.The treatment results and post-operative morbidities were observed in the two groups. Results During the 26 -month follow-up period,one case with ipsilateral axillary lymph node recurrence was observed at 14 months after operation in the SLNB group.While there was one patient presented with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis at 33 months aftr operation in the ALND group.The lymph node recurrence rate were 2.1%（1/48）and 1.4%（1/73）respectively (P=1.000).The average length of stay in the hospital after surgery of SLNB and ALND group were 5（2~10）days and 9(5~16) days.At 6 months after surgery,the paraesthesia incidence rate was 4.2%（2/48）and 71.2%(52/73)，and the arm swelling rate was 0 and 13.7%(10/73) in the SLNB group and ALND group，respectively.The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion In early breast cancer without SLN,SLNB alone has lower axillary recurrence and SLNB can achieve the equivalent effect to ALND;meanwhile,compared with ALND,SLNB has less damage and complications.