{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T10:06:31Z","timestamp":1780653991775,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780617600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for axillary staging in early breast cancer. While technetium-99m (99mTc) radiocolloid is currently the standard tracer, indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence represents a promising alternative. This study aimed to compare the detection rates of both methods in a dual-tracer setting. Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology, Ahaus Hospital, Germany, between April 2024 and March 2025. Fifty-two patients with malignant breast tumors underwent SLNB using both ICG fluorescence and 99mTc radiocolloid. Results: Combined tracer use achieved a 100% sentinel lymph node detection rate. ICG alone detected nodes in 49\/52 patients (94.23%), while 99mTc achieved detection in 50\/52 patients (96.15%). ICG identified all eight metastatic cases (100%), whereas 99mTc identified seven of eight (87.5%). In obese patients (BMI \u2265 30, n = 10), ICG achieved 100% detection versus 90% for 99mTc. The cost per application was 62.73 EUR for ICG versus approximately 250 EUR for 99mTc. Conclusions: ICG fluorescence demonstrates comparable detection rates to 99mTc with advantages in cost-effectiveness, feasibility, and performance in obese patients. ICG represents a safe, radiation-free alternative for sentinel lymph node mapping in breast cancer surgery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics16111743","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T08:43:04Z","timestamp":1780648984000},"page":"1743","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comparison of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence and Technetium-99m for Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Single-Center Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Alexandra","family":"Nienhaus","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School, \u201cVictor Babes\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, EftimieMurgu Square, No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Klinikum Westm\u00fcnsterland, 48683 Ahaus, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ann-Kathrin","family":"Waning","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Klinikum Westm\u00fcnsterland, 48683 Ahaus, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lena","family":"Rotering","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Klinikum Westm\u00fcnsterland, 48683 Ahaus, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1084-2714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elena Silvia","family":"Bernad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Laparoscopy, Laparoscopic Surgery and In Vitro Fertilization, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuropsychology and Behavioral Medicine, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Ist Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Laparoscopy, In Vitro Fertilization and Embryotransfer Research Center, Pius Brinzeu County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 300723 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"209","article-title":"Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries","volume":"71","author":"Sung","year":"2021","journal-title":"CA Cancer J. 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