Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that run close to your vascular system (arteries and veins) and are part of the lymphatic system running throughout your body. An important part of your immune system, this elaborate network of vessels and nodes helps fight infection and clean up waste products made by the body. However, if cancer cells invade these lymph nodes, they can spread to other parts of the body. The lymph vessels in the breast drain into the lymph nodes under the arm (the axilla). If cancer cells are found in these lymph nodes during a node biopsy, additional treatments may be recommended.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
If you have an invasive ductal or lobular cancer (refer to the Understanding Your Diagnosis) or a large amount of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), your surgeon will need to biopsy the lymph nodes under your arm to see if the cancer has spread from the breast to the nearby lymph nodes.
During a sentinel lymph node biopsy, blue dye and/or a radioactive tracer will be injected into the breast at the time of your surgery to help the surgeon locate the lymph nodes. The surgeon will make a small cut (incision) in your armpit and find and remove the first lymph nodes the breast tissue drains into. These are called the sentinel lymph nodes. Usually between one and four lymph nodes are removed. A pathologist, who may be in the operating room at the time of surgery, will look at the lymph nodes. If no cancer cells are found, no further lymph nodes need to be removed. If cancer cells are found then a complete axillary lymph node dissection may be recommended.
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The information in this section will help you plan and prepare for your treatment. However, it is not meant to replace the individual attention, advice, and treatment plan of your oncologist and medical team.
Updated 4/12/06