The sentinel nodes are the first place that cancer is likely to spread.

Also new is the availability of sentinel node biopsy.

If a sentinel node is cancerous, however, more nodes must be removed.

There are various advantages to the sentinel node procedure.

A sentinel node does not hold or reference any data managed by the data structure.

The sentinel node's status seems to predict accurately whether the other nodes under the arm will be free of cancer.

Learn what's involved in a sentinel node biopsy.

One may also use a sentinel node at the end of the list, with an appropriate data field, to eliminate some end-of-list tests.

It is sometimes called the signal node or sentinel node for the same reason.

A sentinel node biopsy is used to see if a known cancer has spread from the original cancer site.

Make sure you understand what will actually happen during your procedure, including the sentinel node biopsy if one will be done.

The technique of sentinel node biopsy is gaining popularity.

Revised text to include sentinel node biopsy as a local-regional treatment option under primary therapy.

This surgery, called sentinel node biopsy, is now the standard way of checking the lymph nodes.

If the sentinel node is positive there may be other positive lymph nodes upstream.

With this convention, an empty list consists of the sentinel node alone, pointing to itself via the next-node link.

Dr. Cody said the sentinel node biopsy seemed less accurate in women with larger breast tumors.

If the sentinel nodes are free of cancer, the disease has not spread to the rest and no more nodes are removed.

In breast cancer, the sentinel node is usually located in the axillary nodes, under the arm.

The sentinel node biopsy has none of these complications, Dr. Giuliano said.

If a sentinel node is positive for cancer cells, additional surgery is done to remove more lymph nodes.

The modifier "SN" is used only if a sentinel node evaluation was performed after treatment.

In a small percentage of cases, the sentinel node is found somewhere else in the lymphatic system of the breast.

A: After a cancer diagnosis, the first question is what type of surgery will you have a lumpectomy (with sentinel node biopsy) or a mastectomy.

However, if the sentinel node contains cancer cells, the surgeon will then usually remove the other lymph nodes in the armpit.