Sentinel node biopsy - Mayo Clinic
COVID-19 Advice updates and vaccine options
Find out about COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, and Mayo Clinic patient and visitor updates. Skip to site navigation Skip to Content This content does not have an English version.This content does not have an Arabic version. Search Request an Appointment Find a Doctor Find a Job Give Now Log in to Patient Account English Español العربية 简体中文 Twitter Facebook Pinterest YouTube Menu Request an Appointment Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures Sentinel node biopsy
Print Overview
Sentinel node biopsy Open pop-up dialog box Close Sentinel node biopsy
Sentinel node biopsy
Sentinel node biopsy identifies the first few lymph nodes into which a tumor drains. The surgeon uses a harmless dye and a weak radioactive solution to locate the sentinel nodes. The nodes are removed and tested for signs of cancer. Sentinel node biopsy is a surgical procedure used to determine whether cancer has spread beyond a primary tumor into your lymphatic system. It's used most commonly in evaluating breast cancer and melanoma. The sentinel nodes are the first few lymph nodes into which a tumor drains. Sentinel node biopsy involves injecting a tracer material that helps the surgeon locate the sentinel nodes during surgery. The sentinel nodes are removed and analyzed in a laboratory. If the sentinel nodes are free of cancer, then cancer is unlikely to have spread, and removing additional lymph nodes is unnecessary. If a sentinel lymph node biopsy reveals cancer, your doctor might recommend removing more lymph nodes. Products & Services
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterSign up for Email: Get Your Free Resource – Coping with CancerShow more products from Mayo Clinic Why it s done
Parts of the immune system Open pop-up dialog box Close Parts of the immune system
Parts of the immune system
The lymphatic system is part of the body's immune system, which protects against infection and disease. The lymphatic system includes the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and lymph channels, as well as the tonsils and adenoids. Sentinel node biopsy is recommended for people with certain types of cancer to determine whether the cancer cells have spread into the lymphatic system. Sentinel node biopsy is routinely used for people with: Breast cancer Melanoma Sentinel node biopsy is being studied for use with other types of cancer, such as: Colon cancer Esophageal cancer Head and neck cancer Non-small cell lung cancer Stomach cancer Thyroid cancer More Information
Merkel cell carcinomaPaget's disease of the breastSentinel node biopsy for melanoma Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest breast cancer information from Mayo Clinic delivered in your inbox
Sign up for free and receive the latest on breast cancer treatment, care and management. ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing
You will receive the first breast cancer email in your inbox shortly, which will include information on treatment, diagnosis, surgery and how breast cancer teams at Mayo Clinic approach personalized care. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription
Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Risks
Sentinel node biopsy is generally a safe procedure. But as with any surgery, it carries a risk of complications, including: Bleeding Pain or bruising at the biopsy site Infection Allergic reaction to the dye used for the procedure Lymphedema - a condition in which the lymph vessels can't adequately drain lymph fluid from an area of your body, causing fluid buildup and swelling Lymphedema
Although lymphedema is an unlikely complication of sentinel node biopsy, one of the main reasons sentinel node biopsy was developed was to decrease the chance of developing lymphedema, which is more likely to occur if many lymph nodes are removed from one area. Because only a few lymph nodes are removed, the risk of lymphedema after sentinel node biopsy is small. Dozens of other lymph nodes remain in the area of your body where the sentinel node biopsy is done. In most cases, those remaining lymph nodes can effectively process the lymph fluid. How you prepare
Your doctor might ask you to avoid eating and drinking for a certain period of time before the procedure to avoid anesthesia complications. Ask your doctor about your situation. What you can expect
Before the procedure
The first step in a sentinel node biopsy is to locate the sentinel nodes. Options include: Radioactive solution. In this option, a weak radioactive solution is injected near the tumor. This solution is taken up by your lymphatic system and travels to the sentinel nodes. This injection is usually done several hours or the day before the surgical procedure to remove the sentinel nodes. Blue dye. Your doctor might inject a harmless blue dye into the area near the tumor. Your lymphatic system delivers the dye to the sentinel nodes, staining them bright blue. You might notice a change in your skin color at the injection site. This color usually disappears in time, but it can be permanent. You might also notice that your urine is blue for a brief time. The blue dye is typically injected just before the surgical procedure to remove the sentinel nodes. Whether you receive the radioactive solution or the blue dye or both to locate the sentinel nodes is usually determined by your surgeon's preference. Some surgeons use both techniques in the same procedure. During the procedure
You're likely to be under general anesthesia during the procedure. The surgeon begins by making a small incision in the area over the lymph nodes. If you've received radioactive solution before the procedure, the surgeon uses a small instrument called a gamma detector to determine where the radioactivity has accumulated and identify the sentinel nodes. If the blue dye is used, it stains the sentinel nodes bright blue, allowing the surgeon to see them. The surgeon then removes the sentinel nodes. In most cases, there are one to five sentinel nodes, and all are removed. The sentinel nodes are sent to a pathologist to examine under a microscope for signs of cancer. In some cases, sentinel node biopsy is done at the same time as surgery to remove the cancer. Or, sentinel node biopsy can be done before or after surgery to remove the cancer. After the procedure
You're moved to a recovery room where the health care team monitors you for complications from the procedure and anesthesia. If you don't have additional surgery, you'll be able to go home the same day. How soon you can return to your regular activities will depend on your situation. Talk to your doctor. If you have sentinel node biopsy as part of a procedure to remove the cancer, your hospital stay will be determined by the extent of your operation. Results
If the sentinel nodes don't show cancer, you won't need other lymph node evaluation. If further treatment is needed, your doctor will use information from the sentinel node biopsy to develop your treatment plan. If any of the sentinel nodes contain cancer, your doctor might recommend removing more lymph nodes to determine how many are affected. In certain cases, a pathologist can examine the sentinel nodes during your procedure. If the sentinel lymph node shows cancer, you might need to have more lymph nodes removed right away rather than having another operation. Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments Nov. 10, 2020 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Harlow SP. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: Techniques. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Sept. 15, 2017. Sentinel lymph node biopsy. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/staging/sentinel-node-biopsy-fact-sheet. Accessed Sept 15, 2017. Sentinel lymph node biopsy for early stage breast cancer. Cancer.Net. http://www.cancer.net/research-and-advocacy/asco-care-and-treatment-recommendations-patients/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy-early-stage-breast-cancer. Accessed Sept. 15, 2017. Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Breast cancer guide. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2017. Related
Breast cancer Invasive lobular carcinoma Male breast cancer Merkel cell carcinoma Paget's disease of the breast Parts of the immune system Sentinel node biopsy Sentinel node biopsy for melanoma Vulvar cancer Show more related content Products & Services
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Sign up for Email: Get Your Free Resource – Coping with Cancer Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Sentinel node biopsy
AboutDoctors & Departments Advertisement
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on IncontinenceNEW – The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – The Essential Diabetes BookNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Mayo Clinic on Hearing and BalanceFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet AssessmentMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book PRC-20337293 Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures Sentinel node biopsy