Etymed
lymphadenectomy
Definition
Surgical removal of a lymph node or lymph glands
Clinical context
A 58-year-old woman presents with a painless, enlarging mass in her right axilla that has been present for 6 weeks. Physical examination reveals a firm, non-tender lymph node measuring 3 cm in diameter. A biopsy confirms malignant melanoma, and the patient undergoes surgical excision with complete lymphadenectomy of the regional lymph nodes. Histopathological examination of the removed nodes shows metastatic melanoma cells. The surgical specimen is sent for further analysis to determine the extent of disease spread.
Mnemonic
LYMPHadenectomy = Lymph Node Removal (LYMPH + NODES)