Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure in which the most likely lymph node your breast cancer may spread is identified and removed. After the sentinel lymph node biopsy, you will most likely have the tumor removed surgically, either with a mastectomy or a breast-conserving surgery.

 

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: A Summary

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is the removal of the sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node the cancer is likely to spread to from the tumor) during surgery. A radioactive substance and/or blue dye is injected near the tumor. The substance or dye flows through the lymph ducts to the lymph nodes. The first lymph node to receive the substance or dye is removed for biopsy.
 
A pathologist (someone who studies diseases and their causes) views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells. If cancer cells are not found, it may not be necessary to remove more lymph nodes. After the sentinel lymph node biopsy, the surgeon removes the tumor (either through breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy).
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD