The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node in a chain or cluster of lymph nodes to which cancer cells are most likely to spread.
To carry out excision, that is to say the removal of the tumor by surgery, a dye or a radioactive tracer is injected near the tumor, in the cervix. This dye or tracer will migrate to the sentinel lymph nodes allowing the surgeon to identify them and remove them for analysis.
If these nodes do not contain cancer cells, it is unlikely that the other lymph nodes will be affected, thus avoiding major surgery to remove all of the nodes.
This technique thus reduces the risk of complications associated with a more extensive surgical procedure and causes fewer side effects for the patient. It is most often carried out laparoscopically with or without robotic assistance. The examination of sentinel lymph nodes helps doctors adapt treatments according to the results in an individualized approach, specific to each patient.
