Objective: To compare the detection rate and accuracy of subareolar versus peritumoral tracer injection for location of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast carcinoma. Methods: The literature regarding subareolar compared to peritumoral tracer injection for location of SLNs in breast cancer was collected by searching the national and international databases. After data extraction, statistical analysis was performed by using Metadisc 1.4 softeware. Results: Seven studies were finally included involving 1 350 patients. In the 794 patients undergoing subareolar injection, SLNs were detected in 747 cases, and the detection rate was 94.08%, while in the 556 patients undergoing peritumoral injection, SLNs were detected in 506 cases, and the detection rate was 91.01%, which in the former was significantly higher than that in the latter (P=0.031). For subareolar and peritumoral injection, the pooled sensitivity for was 0.962 (95% CI=0.929–0.983) and 0.937 (95% CI=0.890–0.968), specificity was 1.000 (95% CI=0.988–1.000) and 1.000 (95% CI=0.988–1.000), and area under curve of SROC was 0.983 3 and 0.956 3, respectively. Conclusion: For location of SLNs in breast cancer, the detection rate of subareolar injection is higher than that of peritumoral injection, but both methods have relatively high accuracy.