How we do it: The Netherlands Cancer Institute approach Emiel J Rutgers, Omgo E Nieweg

Lymphatic mapping with sentinel lymph-node biopsy was introduced at The Netherlands Cancer Institute in 1993. The combined technique with lymphoscintigraphy (LSG), an intraoperative gamma probe, and Patent Blue-V dye was used from the start in 1993.1,2 After our initial positive experience in melanoma,3 we turned our attention to breast cancer.