SNB done today – question

They want the first one in the lymph drainage path to light up – that is the whole point of doing the SNB.  Most melanoma found in a lymph node is microscopic.  They will always remove at least one, but sometimes there may be multiple paths and they will remove all that light up.  One or more is no indication of anything except drainage paths.  On rare occasions, the node may be black which is a pretty strong visual indication of melanoma, but otherwise you have to wait for the pathology because there is no outward sign of disease.  Truthfully, as hard as it is, you just need to sit and wait for the results.  For most folks, nothing can be determined until the pathology is done.  

They want the first one in the lymph drainage path to light up – that is the whole point of doing the SNB.  Most melanoma found in a lymph node is microscopic.  They will always remove at least one, but sometimes there may be multiple paths and they will remove all that light up.  One or more is no indication of anything except drainage paths.  On rare occasions, the node may be black which is a pretty strong visual indication of melanoma, but otherwise you have to wait for the pathology because there is no outward sign of disease.  Truthfully, as hard as it is, you just need to sit and wait for the results.  For most folks, nothing can be determined until the pathology is done.  

They want the first one in the lymph drainage path to light up – that is the whole point of doing the SNB.  Most melanoma found in a lymph node is microscopic.  They will always remove at least one, but sometimes there may be multiple paths and they will remove all that light up.  One or more is no indication of anything except drainage paths.  On rare occasions, the node may be black which is a pretty strong visual indication of melanoma, but otherwise you have to wait for the pathology because there is no outward sign of disease.  Truthfully, as hard as it is, you just need to sit and wait for the results.  For most folks, nothing can be determined until the pathology is done.  

No, how many were taken has nothing to do with it. The fact that there was only one means that's the one they think was first in line to snag any micrometastases moving into the lymphatic system, but it doesn't mean that there were any melanoma cells in it. Just hang tight until you get the answer.

Hazel

No, how many were taken has nothing to do with it. The fact that there was only one means that's the one they think was first in line to snag any micrometastases moving into the lymphatic system, but it doesn't mean that there were any melanoma cells in it. Just hang tight until you get the answer.

Hazel

No, how many were taken has nothing to do with it. The fact that there was only one means that's the one they think was first in line to snag any micrometastases moving into the lymphatic system, but it doesn't mean that there were any melanoma cells in it. Just hang tight until you get the answer.

Hazel

Just to be clear on this particular question, here is some more information.

For SNB, the doctor injects a radioactive dye into the bed of the lesion. This solution drains into the lymph system and pools in the lymph node(s) that drain that region. That node is the first in line between the lesion and the larger lymphatic system and tumor cells in that node are the best indication that the melanoma may have spread. In this sense it serves as an early warning system, or sentinel.

The radioactive dye solution eventually moves from the lymph node and further into the lymph system where it spreads and continues to be diluted.

The doctor waits a period of time, judging when the dye has been in place long enough to get to the lymph node but not so long as to have washed out of it. The surgical team then looks for the area where the dye had collected. This is done by visually and by use of a fance geiger counter. Usually one single node is all that "lights up" on the radiation detector, but two or more can light up if they also collect lymph from the same region.

This "lighting up" is a simple mechanical process, similar to dumping a bucket of dye into a river and watching how long it takes to get to a point downstream. Neither the dye nor the radioactive material are any indication of tumor cells being present in the node. Lymph nodes are tiny and very hard to see, and these compounds simply make finding the node easier. 

By the way, a company called Lymphoseek has developed a different kind of dye that binds to cells in the sentinel node and doesn't wash out. They claim this allows a larger window for identifying and removing sentinel nodes.

Tim–MRF 

Just to be clear on this particular question, here is some more information.

For SNB, the doctor injects a radioactive dye into the bed of the lesion. This solution drains into the lymph system and pools in the lymph node(s) that drain that region. That node is the first in line between the lesion and the larger lymphatic system and tumor cells in that node are the best indication that the melanoma may have spread. In this sense it serves as an early warning system, or sentinel.

The radioactive dye solution eventually moves from the lymph node and further into the lymph system where it spreads and continues to be diluted.

The doctor waits a period of time, judging when the dye has been in place long enough to get to the lymph node but not so long as to have washed out of it. The surgical team then looks for the area where the dye had collected. This is done by visually and by use of a fance geiger counter. Usually one single node is all that "lights up" on the radiation detector, but two or more can light up if they also collect lymph from the same region.

This "lighting up" is a simple mechanical process, similar to dumping a bucket of dye into a river and watching how long it takes to get to a point downstream. Neither the dye nor the radioactive material are any indication of tumor cells being present in the node. Lymph nodes are tiny and very hard to see, and these compounds simply make finding the node easier. 

By the way, a company called Lymphoseek has developed a different kind of dye that binds to cells in the sentinel node and doesn't wash out. They claim this allows a larger window for identifying and removing sentinel nodes.

Tim–MRF 

Just to be clear on this particular question, here is some more information.

For SNB, the doctor injects a radioactive dye into the bed of the lesion. This solution drains into the lymph system and pools in the lymph node(s) that drain that region. That node is the first in line between the lesion and the larger lymphatic system and tumor cells in that node are the best indication that the melanoma may have spread. In this sense it serves as an early warning system, or sentinel.

The radioactive dye solution eventually moves from the lymph node and further into the lymph system where it spreads and continues to be diluted.

The doctor waits a period of time, judging when the dye has been in place long enough to get to the lymph node but not so long as to have washed out of it. The surgical team then looks for the area where the dye had collected. This is done by visually and by use of a fance geiger counter. Usually one single node is all that "lights up" on the radiation detector, but two or more can light up if they also collect lymph from the same region.

This "lighting up" is a simple mechanical process, similar to dumping a bucket of dye into a river and watching how long it takes to get to a point downstream. Neither the dye nor the radioactive material are any indication of tumor cells being present in the node. Lymph nodes are tiny and very hard to see, and these compounds simply make finding the node easier. 

By the way, a company called Lymphoseek has developed a different kind of dye that binds to cells in the sentinel node and doesn't wash out. They claim this allows a larger window for identifying and removing sentinel nodes.

Tim–MRF