Intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence imaging for sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar cancer: First clinical results

Fluorescent radiocolloids: are hybrid tracers the future for lymphatic mapping?

“…In 20 % of the patients (4/20; cohort A) this was possible. These findings are comparable to previously reported studies [20]. In cases when the fluorescent signal was not visible the handheld gamma probe was used to determine the point of incision and further preparation.…”

“…In only 21 % of patients (17 of 80) was the SLN detectable by ICG before skin incision [21]. These findings are consistent with other studies showing that although fluorescence imaging allowed for intraoperative identification of the SLNs, the limited degree of tissue penetration does not allow for accurate SLN mapping prior to surgery [18,20].…”

“…melanoma, breast cancer, penile, and vulvar cancers). However, even here visualization of the SLNs is difficult in overweight patients as in those cases fat tissue completely surrounds the SLNs, thereby attenuating the signal [19,20].…”

Comparing the Hybrid Fluorescent–Radioactive Tracer Indocyanine Green–99mTc-Nanocolloid with 99mTc-Nanocolloid for Sentinel Node Identification: A Validation Study Using Lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT

“…Near-infrared fluorescence imaging has the potential to address the drawbacks of radioguided sentinel node detection by providing better spatial resolution and allowing for real-time optical detection of the sentinel node within the surrounding anatomy (19)(20)(21)(22). Yet, because the signal penetration of fluorescent probes is limited by tissue attenuation, radioguidance to the general area of interest is still indispensable (23).…”

Molecular imaging: the emerging role of optical imaging in nuclear medicine

“…Although these claims are not always directly in line with our own opinion, various authors have suggested during the recent revival of optical imaging that optical technologies can replace techniques currently used in clinical routine for some in vivo applications [2] & The potential to increase the tissue penetration of optical emissions by using near-infrared emissions: The signal penetration of emissions between 400 and 650 nm is confined to the millimetre range, while near-infrared emissions may penetrate tissue as far as 1 cm. & The potential for superior in vivo resolution [1]: When used superficially, fluorescence resolution can be less than 1 μm while radionuclide-based techniques remain limited to the millimetre-centimetre range.…”