Health Information
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
What To Think About
- In a sentinel lymph node biopsy, less tissue is taken out but more sections of tissue are looked at than by a standard lymph node dissection. But if cancer is found, additional surgery may be needed to look at more lymph nodes.
- Swelling in the area around the biopsy site is less common with sentinel lymph node biopsy than with a lymph node dissection.
- The dye may cause your skin to be blue for several days after the biopsy. It may also cause your urine to turn green for 1 to 2 days.
- It is possible to have Reference false-negative Opens New Window results from the small sample taken during a sentinel lymph node biopsy.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference February 27, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery |
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