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Would you explain the sentinel node biopsy procedure compared to a standard axillary biopsy?

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Topics (Tags):

Biopsy Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection Or Biopsy Breast Cancer Surgery Surgery Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Or Biopsy

Topics:

Biopsy X Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection Or Biopsy X Breast Cancer Surgery X Surgery X Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Or Biopsy X

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Answers (1)

PeterBeitschMD (Physician - Surgery - Surgical Oncology (Verified) ) - 09 / 06 / 2011

Sentinel node biopsy involves mapping the breast (or skin in the case of melanoma) to determine which 1-4 (average 2) lymph nodes drain the breast. This allows precise removal of the lymph nodes most likely to harbor metastases form the breast cancer. A standard axillary biopsy is a removal of 1 or more lymph nodes that are abnormal - usually by size criteria. A standard axillary lymph node dissection is the removal of all the lymph nodes in a certain anatomic area (the 3 dimensiaonl triangle between the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle (anterior border), the axillary vein (superior border), and the lateral border of the lattisimus dorsi muscle (posterior border). There are typically 10-15 lymph nodes under each arm but like most things in biology the number is a bell shaped curve with some people having a few (6 or less) and some people having a lot (30 or more).

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Latest Activity: 09 / 06 / 2011
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