sentinel lymph node
Pronunciation: SEN-tih-nel
The first lymph node to receive drainage from a primary tumor, used for staging without complete lymphadenectomy.
Full Definition
A sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node or nodes in a lymphatic basin that receive lymphatic drainage directly from a primary tumor site. In gynecologic oncology, sentinel lymph node mapping has revolutionized the surgical management of cervical and endometrial cancers by allowing for targeted lymph node assessment without the morbidity of complete lymphadenectomy. The technique involves injection of radioactive tracer and/or blue dye near the tumor, followed by identification and removal of the sentinel nodes for histopathologic examination. If sentinel nodes are negative for malignancy, it is unlikely that other nodes in the same basin are involved.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as 'SLN' in operative notes and pathology reports.
In Context
- "Bilateral sentinel lymph node mapping was successful with identification of three nodes." — Operative report
- "The sentinel lymph node was negative for metastatic disease on frozen section analysis." — Pathology report