Women's Center
BAPTIST HEALTH Breast Center
Sentinel Node Biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy is the removal and testing of a lymph node (or
nodes) to determine if it contains cancer cells. The sentinel lymph node is
the first lymph node that a tumor is likely to spread to.
Risk Factors for Complications During the Procedure:
An allergy to the dye or radioactive tracer given for the biopsy could result
in complications.
In
the days leading up to your procedure:
- Review your
regular medications with the surgeon
- You may be advised
to stop taking certain drugs:
- Aspirin
- Anti-inflammatory
drugs (e.g., NSAIDs)
- Anti-coagulant
(blood-thinning) drugs
- The night before,
eat a light meal and do not eat or drink anything after midnight
- Arrange for
a ride to and from the hospital
During the procedure:
You will be given local anesthesia. Then, the doctor injects a dye and something
radioactive near the cancer tumor. This dye helps the doctor identify the sentinel
lymph node – it will be blue and emit a small amount of radiation. A special
device is used to pick up that radioactive signal. The surgeon makes a small
incision and removes the sentinel node (or nodes). The sentinel lymph node (or
nodes) is checked for cancer cells by the pathologist.
The following conditions
can increase the risk of surgical complications:
- Obesity
- Chronic Illness
- Advance Age
- Smoking
- Poor Nutritional
Status
- Use of certain
medications or dietary supplements
- Bleeding Disorders
What
to expect:
Prior to surgery, your doctor will likely do a physical exam and a biopsy of
the cancerous tissue. Tests may include the following:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- A mammogram,
in cases of breast cancer
- Lymphoscintigraphy,
a test to track the flow of lymps