title: Comparison of a 1-day and a 2-day protocol for lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with nonpalpable breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the identification rate of the sentinel node in a 1-day protocol versus a 2-day protocol in patients with a nonpalpable breast carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the 1-day protocol an average dose of 120 MBq (99m)Tc-nanocolloid was injected intratumorally on the day of surgery, and in the 2-day protocol an average dose of 370 MBq (99m)Tc-nanocolloid was injected intratumorally the day before surgery. Both a gamma ray detection probe and patent blue were used to locate the sentinel node.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 57 of 67 patients (85%) treated in the 1-day protocol and in 51 of 56 patients (91%) treated in the 2-day protocol the sentinel node was detected (p=0.311). Of the patients in the 1-day protocol and the 2-day protocol, respectively, 18 (27%) and 13 (23%) showed metastasis (p=0.975)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in the identification rate of the sentinel node between the 1-day protocol and the 2-day protocol in patients diagnosed with a nonpalpable breast carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical Centre Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.vanesser@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Esser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hobbelink
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Van Isselt
authors.forename: W P Th M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: I H M
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Borel Rinkes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Hillegersberg