During a lymphadenectomy, which specimens would be collected?

During a lymphadenectomy, the primary goal is to remove one or more lymph nodes from the body to examine them for the presence of cancer or other diseases. This surgical procedure focuses specifically on the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in the body’s immune response and the dissemination of cancer.

The removal of lymph nodes allows for the assessment of potential metastasis, important for staging cancer and determining appropriate treatment options. Pathological examination of these lymph nodes can reveal if cancer has spread beyond the primary site, which is critical information for managing a patient's treatment plan.

The other options provided are unrelated to the lymphatic system. For example, the removal of a lung lobe pertains to lung surgeries such as lobectomy and does not assess lymph nodes. Similarly, removing the entire breast is associated with mastectomy procedures, and retted sections of the rectum would involve surgical procedures like a resection or an abdominoperineal resection, which focus on the intestinal tract rather than lymph nodes. Thus, the selection of one or more lymph nodes as specimens during a lymphadenectomy reflects the surgical intention of assessing lymphatic spread in cancer patients.