If this occurs, it will fade over the next 24 hours. Some people have noticed that they develop a slight bluish tint to their skin after having a sentinel node biopsy. If the pathologist finds cancer cells, you will need another surgical procedure to remove more lymph nodes. These cancer cells may not be seen at the time of the "quick look” of the frozen lymph node. It is possible that later a more thorough examination by a pathologist may show cancer cells. If the examination of the frozen lymph node does not show cancer cells, no further lymph nodes will be removed at that time. If cancer cells are present in the lymph nodes, your surgeon may remove more lymph nodes at that time while you are still in surgery. These lymph nodes will be sent to the pathologist who will freeze them and perform a quick look to see if any cancer cells are visible. The surgeon will then make a small incision and remove the lymph node (or a few lymph nodes) that have taken up the "tracer.” Following the injection of the tracer, your surgeon, in the operating room, will see the path of the "tracer” leading to the area in your axilla.The radiologist will discuss the injection with you and will ask you if you have any allergies or have had any reactions to dyes or tracers. This injection will be done by a radiologist in the Nuclear Medicine Department. A tracer is a blue dye, a radioactive tracer or both. Your surgeon will explain the biopsy procedure and will have you sign a consent form.Ī "tracer" will be injected into the breast near the area of your tumor. The sentinel lymph node biopsy allows some women without lymph node involvement by cancer cells to avoid more extensive surgery in the underarm area, known as the axilla. If cancer cells have traveled to the sentinel lymph node, your surgeon may remove more lymph nodes from your axilla (under your armpit). A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a surgical procedure by which your surgeon will remove the sentinel lymph node and send it to the pathology lab for examination. The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node (or few lymph nodes) to which breast cancer cells may travel.
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