Lamont Cathey

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

What are lymph nodes? Lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) are part of the bodys immune system. Tiny channels (called lymphatics) carry fluid and debris to the lymph nodes which act as filters. The lymph nodes that filter waste fluid and cells from the breast are mainly located in the armpit (also called the axilla.) These lymph nodes are usually the first ones affected if cancer spreads beyond the breast. Other lymph nodes that can become involved with breast cancer are located near the collarbone and behind the breastbone.

Flexible endoscopy and enteral nutrition.

The use of intensive nutritional support to meet the metabolic nutrient requirements of critically ill patients has become standard medical treatment. It has been shown that enteral feeding provides significantly better metabolic support than long-term intravenous hyper-alimentation and therefore, endoscopic placement of enteral access has become commonplace. As an extension of flexible endoscopy, the trans-oral or percutaneous placement of enteral access devices is appropriate for patients with gastrointestinal disease, post-trauma support, and oncologic processes. The main access route continues to be achieved through the use of nasoenteric feeding tubes that may be facilitated by endoscopic placement. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and jejunostomy have become reliable methods of achieving enteral access as videoendoscopy usage has increased. The placement of jejunal feeding tubes reduces the opportunity for reflux of gastric content and, in the long-term, has proven a reliable method for enteral support.