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9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Monday - Friday
Closed on Holidays

Surgeon Dr. Herbert Ridyard doing rounds at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Connecticut

Surgeon Dr. Herbert Ridyard doing rounds at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Connecticut

What we do...

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

In some situations the lymph nodes can be involved with cancer. For instance, in breast cancer it is important to find out whether or not the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes) are involved with the colon cancer. Similarly in melanoma skin cancer, it is very important it know whether or not the lymph glands are involved with the melanoma.

Just ten years ago, the surgery necessary to test the lymph nodes was very involved. Now, however, the surgery can often be done through a very small incision. Drs. Ridyard, Kloss and Kolodziejczak have been trained and have tremendous experience performing sentinel lymph node biopsy. This is a technique using nuclear reactive tracer material that "marks" the first lymph node involved with a cancer. This first lymph node (sentinel lymph node) is located using a Geiger counter (like you see on TV); we can actually hear the clicking get louder and faster as the surgeon gets closer and closer the this "hot" lymph node (the sentinel lymph node). When this first node is identified, it can be removed through a small incision.

Using this technique of sentinel lymph node biopsy, many patients can be spared the larger incision and greater risk of lymph edema. If the first lymph node (sentinel lymph node) is negative, ie. not involved with the cancer, then the surgeon can stop the procedure. No further lymph node sampling is necessary. However, if this first lymph node is involved with the cancer, then further, more extensive surgery may be required. The other lymph nodes are removed both to figure out the extent of their involvement and to help remove cancer tissue.

All three of the surgeons in Windham Surgical Group are board certified and have received extensive training in sentinel lymph node surgery and Dr. Kolodziejczak is a specialty trained surgical oncologist. The Jefferson XRAY group from Hartford Hospital performs the radiology portion of this procedure at Windham Hospital. They are a tremendous asset to Windham Hospital and our patients.

...more information on cancer & sentinel lymph node biopsy

From US News and World Report: "On Call Plus Treatment"

From the University of Michigan: "Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: What Breast Cancer Patients Need to Know"

From the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas: "How Do Doctors Know if Breast Cancer Has Spread to the Lymph Nodes?"

162 Mansfield Avenue Willimantic, Connecticut 06226

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