SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY HOW TO
SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY SKIN

Read the resource Caring for Yourself After Your Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for information about what to expect after your procedure.The Role of The Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) Your doctor or nurse will tell you what to expect. This depends on how many other surgeries you had. You might go home the same day as your biopsy, or you may need to stay in the hospital. Your surgeon will discuss this with you in more detail, if needed. This is called an axillary lymph node dissection. If the sentinel node(s) do contain cancer cells, you might need to have more lymph nodes removed. They will send the node(s) to the Pathology Department to see if they contain cancer cells. They will look for the blue sentinel node(s) and remove them. Once they find the area where your sentinel node(s) are, they will make an incision (surgical cut). Next, your surgeon will use a Neoprobe (small handheld device) to measure the radioactivity from the liquid that was injected during your lymphatic mapping procedure. It will stain your sentinel node(s) blue. This dye will travel through your lymphatic vessels to the sentinel node(s). Once you’re asleep, your surgeon will inject a small amount of blue dye near the site of your cancer. You will get anesthesia (medication to make you sleep) before your procedure. Your nurse will give you this resource during your appointment.

SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY HOW TO

It explains how to get ready for your biopsy. If you’re having your sentinel node biopsy as a separate surgery, read the resource Getting Ready for Surgery. Many people have their sentinel node biopsy during their breast or melanoma surgery. Back to top Sentinel Node Biopsy Before your biopsy procedureĪ sentinel node biopsy is a surgical procedure. If you have any questions, speak with your nuclear medicine doctor. You can either throw the milk away or store it for 24 hours.Īfter 24 hours, you can start breastfeeding again, feed your stored milk to your baby, or both. You can keep pumping your milk, but don’t feed it to your baby. Stop breastfeeding for 24 hours after your lymphatic mapping. If you’re not having your biopsy on the same day as your mapping procedure, you will go home after your mapping procedure. If you’re having your sentinel node biopsy the same day as your mapping procedure, you will be brought to the area where you’re having your biopsy. You might have a full-body imaging scan done using a larger machine that you lie down on.īoth ways work equally well.Your technologist might use a small handheld device called a Neoprobe.Then, a technologist will measure the radioactivity in your breast, axilla (armpit), and thigh on your affected side to see how much of the liquid was absorbed. This will help the radioactive liquid travel to the sentinel node(s). You might feel stinging or burning during the injection.Īfter the injection, you will massage the area of the injection site for 10 minutes.

SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY SKIN

While you’re in the reclining chair, a doctor or nurse will inject a small amount of a radioactive liquid under your skin below the areola of your affected breast. During your mapping procedureĭuring your procedure, you will lie on a reclining chair for about 20 minutes. Lymphatic mapping can be done the day before or the day of your sentinel node biopsy.Ĭheck your appointment reminder for where to go for your lymphatic mapping procedure. Lymphatic mapping is the first step in your sentinel node biopsy. Your lymphatic system in other areas of your body

Sentinel node biopsy