This study evaluates the effectiveness of sentinel-node biopsy in breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes. The researchers used lymphoscintigraphy and a γ-ray detection probe to identify and remove the sentinel node during surgery. In 163 patients, the sentinel node was identified in 160 cases (97.5%), and in 45 patients with tumors less than 1.5 cm, the sentinel node was the only positive node in 32 cases (38%). The findings suggest that sentinel-node biopsy can accurately predict axillary lymph node status in most patients, allowing for the avoidance of complete axillary dissection when the sentinel node is disease-free. The study concludes that sentinel-node biopsy is a valuable tool for determining the need for axillary dissection, particularly in patients with small tumors, and may reduce the risk of false-negative results by excluding multicentric and multifocal tumors.This study evaluates the effectiveness of sentinel-node biopsy in breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes. The researchers used lymphoscintigraphy and a γ-ray detection probe to identify and remove the sentinel node during surgery. In 163 patients, the sentinel node was identified in 160 cases (97.5%), and in 45 patients with tumors less than 1.5 cm, the sentinel node was the only positive node in 32 cases (38%). The findings suggest that sentinel-node biopsy can accurately predict axillary lymph node status in most patients, allowing for the avoidance of complete axillary dissection when the sentinel node is disease-free. The study concludes that sentinel-node biopsy is a valuable tool for determining the need for axillary dissection, particularly in patients with small tumors, and may reduce the risk of false-negative results by excluding multicentric and multifocal tumors.