Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A sentinel lymph node biopsy identifies and removes the first lymph node (or nodes) that cancer would drain to from a tumour, allowing assessment for spread with much less morbidity than removing all the lymph nodes in that area.

It allows doctors to check whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes without the greater surgical risk and side effects, such as lymphoedema, associated with removing all the lymph nodes in a region.

A tracer, often a dye or radioactive substance, is injected near the tumour before surgery, and this travels to the first draining lymph node (or nodes), which the surgeon can then identify and remove for testing.

Yes, it is a well-established, generally safe procedure, with a lower risk of complications like lymphoedema compared with full lymph node dissection.

If cancer is found in the sentinel node, further treatment decisions are made based on this finding, which may include additional lymph node removal, radiotherapy, or systemic treatment depending on the cancer type and extent.

It is commonly used in breast cancer and melanoma, among others, as a standard way of assessing lymph node involvement while minimising surgical morbidity.

Your surgeon will recommend this as part of staging for certain cancers where lymph node status significantly affects treatment planning, discussed as part of your overall cancer treatment plan.