Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Dye/Radiotracer and Injection Sites
The injection site for the blue dye or the radiotracer can be either over the tumor or the areola (Fig. 48-1). In the operating room the surgeon then looks for a blue lymph node (if dye is used), a radioactive lymph node (if radiotracer is used), or both. With a radiotracer, multiple nodes may be radioactive. It is important to search for the node with the highest level of radioactivity. This node, as well as all nodes with more than 10% of the highest count, should be removed for pathologic evaluation.