In a patient with early breast cancer, the first axillary node to receive lymphatic drainage from the tumour site is identified intraoperatively using blue dye and radioisotope. This node is called the:

• A Sentinel lymph node ✓
• B Rotter's node
• C Delphian node
• D Sappey's node

Explanation

The sentinel node is defined as the first lymph node in the regional basin that receives drainage from the primary tumour, identified with blue dye or technetium-labelled colloid. Its status predicts the state of the whole nodal basin, allowing limited dissection if it is negative. Rotter's nodes are interpectoral nodes, the Delphian node is prelaryngeal in thyroid disease, and Sappey's name attaches to the subareolar plexus, not a node.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.