Dr.Satish c- Breast cancer doctor in Gottigere
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
During a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), the sentinel lymph node is located, excised, and analyzed to see if cancer cells are present
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Overview
During a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), the sentinel lymph node is located, excised, and analyzed to see if cancer cells are present. Sentinel lymph nodes are the first lymph nodes that cancer cells from a primary tumor are most likely to spread to.
If the SLNB result is negative, it means that the malignancy has not yet progressed to the organs or adjacent lymph nodes. If the SLNB test is positive, cancer is present in the sentinel lymph node and may have migrated to nearby lymph nodes, along with other organs too.
This test can help oncologists in devising an appropriate treatment plan for breast cancer patients.
If you are looking for this breast cancer test in Bangalore, you may consult Dr. Satish C, one of the Breast cancer doctor in Gottigere, Bangalore
How Does Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Work?
Finding the sentinel lymph node (or lymph nodes) is the first step. A surgeon will do this by injecting a radioactive material, blue dye, or even both, close to the tumor. The surgeon then looks for lymph nodes that are dyed with blue dye or uses a gamma detector to find lymph nodes that contain the radioactive tracer. The surgeon makes a small incision in the skin above the sentinel lymph node, then removes the node. The patient may be put under general anesthesia for this procedure.
A pathologist then examines the sentinel node to look for cancerous cells. The surgeon may remove additional lymph nodes if malignancy is observed, either during the same biopsy operation or subsequent surgical surgery. In most cases, this is an outpatient procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since the patient will be under general anesthesia during the procedure, it may not be painful for patients. However, after the procedure, patients might have pain, tiredness, and bruising at the biopsy site. Swelling in the breast and underarm region is also possible.
The main purpose of SLNB is to assess whether cancer has metastasized into the lymphatic system from a primary tumor.
A sentinel node biopsy typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. If numerous lymph nodes appear colored, it could take longer.
The possible side effects that patients may experience after undergoing SLNB include bleeding, infection at the biopsy site, allergic reaction to the dye used, pain or bruising at the biopsy site, fluid build-up, and swelling (lymphedema). This will go away within days after the surgery
For sentinel lymph node biopsy, you may consult Dr. Satish C, a breast cancer expert in Bangalore.