Examination of the sentinel lymph node

In breast cancer surgery, the sentinel lymph node (the node that is “standing guard”) is removed from the armpit on the same side as the tumour. This procedure is designed to check whether the disease has spread to the lymph system (known as regional metastasis). Using the sentinel technique, it is possible to establish whether any tumour cells have broken away and progressed to the filtering station, or lymph nodes, located under the armpit. The lymph node that is removed is then examined under a microscope using a special procedure, while the breast cancer surgery is still in progress. If the histological examination of this lymph node confirms that it is free of tumour cells, it is not necessary to remove the remaining lymph nodes.

Brochure on the Centre for Breast Cancer Surgery

Brochure
«Breast cancer:
A question of quality of life»
(in German)



Brochure Download

Centre for Breast Cancer Surgery
Pyramid Clinic
Bellerivestrasse 34
CH-8034 Zurich

+41 44 388 15 15
+41 44 388 14 15

brustkrebschirurgie@pyramide.ch


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