[The sentinel node: first cases in Panama]

Ideal treatment planning in cancer is primarily defined by proper staging. The presence of metastasis in the regional nodal basin must be determined. The best and least invasive manner to achieve this purpose in the nodal basin is by studying the sentinel node. We present the first series of patients treated in Panama with identification and evaluation of the sentinel node. Initially we used only the dye technique and our rate of identification was 77%. When the radioisotope technique was used combined with dye, the localization was successful in 100% of the cases. We recommend the combined technique for a higher yield and minimal false negatives.