IF (EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM sys.tables WHERE name = 'table_name'))
BEGIN
END
sys.tables can also provide you some information about a table object, for example. the column is_replicatedtells you whether the table was created by replication or the column has_replication_filterindicates whether the table has a replication filter set
NB: this is for SQL Server
Edit: To access:
SELECT COUNT(*) as Exists from MsysObjects
WHERE type = 1
AND name = 'MY_TABLE_NAME'
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