Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
sentinel lymph node biopsy
Surgical technique to identify and remove the first lymph node draining a tumor site.
Full Definition
Sentinel lymph node biopsy involves injection of radioactive tracer and/or blue dye at the primary tumor site to identify the first draining lymph node(s). This minimally invasive technique allows staging of the regional lymphatics while avoiding the morbidity of comprehensive neck dissection in appropriately selected patients. The procedure requires specialized nuclear medicine coordination and has specific indications in early-stage oral cavity cancers with clinically negative necks.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize when used as a formal procedure name.
In Context
- "Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative for metastatic disease in the early oral tongue cancer." — pathology report
- "The SLNB protocol required coordination between nuclear medicine and surgical teams." — clinical protocol document
Also known as
SLNB
sentinel node biopsy
Contrasted with
comprehensive neck dissection
Don't confuse with
selective neck dissection
lymph node sampling