In metastatic disease, malignant cells can disseminate systemically by one of two pathways: hematogenous or lymphatic. Sentinel Lymph Node (SNLB) Biopsy is a procedure designed to identify potential systemic subclinical or microscopic metastasis from a malignant tumor by identifying their appearance in draining lymph nodes. SNLB has transformed cancer management by allowing providers to detect smaller disease volume compared to traditional modalities such a CT or MRI. SLNB is based on the clinical observation that certain malignancies spread via the lymphatics prior to spreading through the bloodstream. This lymphatic spread often proceeds in a preferential and sequential manner, that is, tumors will metastasize first to a draining lymph node/s within in the region before spreading systemically. These draining lymph node/s are referred to as the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and it is important to note that there is often more than one sentinel lymph node. The pattern of this lymphatic drainage from a tumor to regional lymph nodes is often but not always predictable.



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Note added at 13 óra (2023-08-23 11:40:20 GMT)
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