Sentinel Node Mapping for Breast Cancer

When breast cancer spreads, or metastisizes, the cancer cells travel from the tumor and often end up in the lymph nodes. When cancer treatment is being planned, surgeons will biopsy (remove and study) the lymph nodes in the armpit to see if the cancer has spread. In a standard biopsy, all 30 lymph nodes are removed. Sentinel Node Mapping allows surgeons to remove only the one to four lymph nodes most likely to contain cancer cells, decreasing surgical side effects and discomfort.

Sentinel node mapping is performed by the Department of Surgical Oncology. More information about this procedure is available at their website.