Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Abstract

If the SLN does not contain cancer cells, it is considered negative (healthy) and suggests that other nodes in the area are also negative (healthy). If the SLN is found to contain cancer cells, it is considered positive (cancer in the lymph nodes). This suggests that other nodes in the area may be positive therefore an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is done to check for spread of the cancer. This involves removing ten to twenty lymph nodes from the armpit during the operation.