US Medical Term · procedures
Lymph Node Dissection
Disección de ganglios linfáticos
Also: Vaciamiento ganglionar (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Lymph Node Dissection |
| Spanish (Español) | Disección de ganglios linfáticos |
| Chinese (中文) | 淋巴結清除術 |
| Korean (한국어) | 림프절 절제술 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Phẫu thuật nạo vét hạch bạch huyết |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Lymph node dissection |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dissecção de linfonodos |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การผ่าตัดต่อมน้ำเหลือง |
| Japanese (日本語) | リンパ節郭清術 |
What it means
Lymph node dissection is a surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes from a region of the body to check whether cancer has spread. It is commonly performed alongside cancer surgeries such as mastectomy, melanoma excision, or colorectal surgery. The removed nodes are sent to a laboratory for examination. Sentinel lymph node biopsy, a less extensive approach, removes only the first one to three lymph nodes that drain from the tumor. A full axillary or regional dissection removes more nodes. Risks include lymphedema, a condition causing persistent swelling, numbness, or tightness in the nearby limb. Recovery depends on the extent of surgery and the primary procedure performed alongside it.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My surgeon will perform a lymph node dissection during my mastectomy to see if cancer has spread.
Mi cirujana realizará una disección de ganglios linfáticos durante la mastectomía para ver si el cáncer se ha diseminado.
What is the difference between a sentinel node biopsy and a full lymph node dissection?
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre una biopsia del ganglio centinela y una disección completa de ganglios linfáticos?
What are the signs of lymphedema after a lymph node dissection and how is it treated?
¿Cuáles son las señales de linfedema después de una disección de ganglios linfáticos y cómo se trata?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026