Lymph Nodes

Neck dissection is removal of some or all of the lymph nodes of the neck. This is usually done because cancer has spread to those lymph nodes. The most common cancers that spread to the cervical lymph nodes and may require treatment with neck dissection are melanoma, thyroid cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and oropharynx

Axillary dissection is removal of all of the lymph nodes of the armpit. This is usually done because cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. The most common cancers that spread to the axillary lymph nodes and may require treatment with axillary dissection are metastatic breast cancer, melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Inguinal dissection is removal of all of the lymph nodes of the groin. This is usually done because cancer has spread to those lymph nodes. The most common cancers that spread to the inguinal lymph nodes and may require treatment with inguinal dissection are melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, penile cancer and cancer of the anus and rectum.

The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node to which a cancer will most likely spread from its point of origin. They are usually found in the nearest lymph node station. For example, a melanoma of the leg may spread to the lymph nodes of the groin whereas one of the face may go to lymph nodes in the neck.