A 62-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer is scheduled for a partial mastectomy. The oncology nurse explained that the surgeon will want to take tissue samples to ensure the disease has not spread to adjacent axillary lymph nodes. The patient has asked if she will have her lymph nodes dissected, like her mother did several years ago. What alternative to lymph node dissection will this patient most likely undergo?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Sentinel node biopsy. This procedure involves identifying and removing the sentinel lymph node(s) which is the first lymph node(s) that cancer cells are likely to spread to from the primary tumor. This method helps determine if cancer has spread beyond the primary site without the need for a full axillary lymph node dissection. It is less invasive, has fewer side effects, and provides accurate staging information. Lymphadenectomy (A) refers to the removal of multiple lymph nodes, which is more extensive than necessary in this case. Needle biopsy (B) and open biopsy (C) are not specific to lymph node evaluation and do not provide accurate staging information for breast cancer.