SLNB
Medical abbreviation · Surgical
| Stands for | Sentinel lymph node biopsy |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SLNB stands for Sentinel lymph node biopsy, a surgical abbreviation.
Procedure that identifies and removes the first lymph nodes draining a tumor, located by injecting a radioactive tracer, blue dye or both, to determine whether cancer has spread. It is standard staging for breast cancer and melanoma and avoids full lymph node removal when the sentinel nodes are negative.
Example: SLNB: 2 of 2 nodes negative; no axillary dissection needed.
Usage notes
Developed for melanoma by Donald Morton in the early 1990s and adapted to breast cancer soon after. Trials such as ACOSOG Z0011 (2011) showed that many women with one or two positive sentinel nodes can safely skip axillary dissection. Lymphedema is far less common after SLNB than after axillary dissection.
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.