Colorectal cancer represents one of the most encountered malignancies worldwide, with a high capacity of lymphatic spread. Therefore, the lymph node status plays a crucial role in order to tailor the adjuvant treatment and to decrease the recurrence rates. In consequence, performing the sentinel lymph node detection in colorectal cancer patients should orientate the surgeon’s attention on the lymphatic basins of drainage and, furthermore to orientate the lymph node dissection. However, the method has certain particularities in colorectal patients depending on the location of tumor, on the size and on the type of associated neoadjuvant therapy. This is a literature review of the most relevant studies conducted on this theme.