The sentinel lymph node is the hypothetical first lymph node or group of nodes draining a cancer. In case of established cancerous dissemination it is postulated that the sentinel lymph node/s is/are the target organs primarily reached by metastasizing cancer cells from the tumor. Thus, sentinel lymph nodes can be totally void of cancer, due to the fact that they were detected prior to dissemination.
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Famous quotes containing the word sentinel:
“The sentinel with his musket beside a man with his umbrella is spectral. There is not sufficient reason for his existence.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)