Sentinel lymph node mapping as a side-effect of colonoscopic tattooing

Abstract

Our findings support the thesis that colonoscopic tattooing holds the potential for SLN mapping. Therefore, a prospective study with an appropriate case number should follow this pilot study to clarify the clinical value of this finding.

Effect of preoperative colonoscopic tattooing on lymph node harvest in T1 colorectal cancer

“…It is questionable if tattooing has additional detection power as a sentinel LN mapping tool in T1 colorectal cancer. However, it should be mentioned that the median number of carbon-containing LNs per each person in our study (median 13, range 2-27) was higher than that in previous reports (median [5][6] [7,18]. Further large-scale studies are warranted to reveal the true impact of tattooing as a sentinel lymph node mapping tool.…”

“…Several authors reported the possibility of tattooing as a useful tool for sentinel lymph node mapping [7,18]. Recently, Yan et al reported the endoscopic submucosal injection of 1 mL carbon nanoparticles suspension at the tumor site is feasible to detect sentinel lymph nodes in clinically T1-2 colorectal cancers [19].…”

Sentinel node mapping by colonic tattooing

“…We applaud Dr. Spatz and colleagues' appreciation of the clinical phenomenon that mesocolonic nodes often become carbon stained after endoscopic inking of the primary colonic lesion and their subsequent endeavour to progress the empiric toward evidence [1]. We also have noticed many patients who have undergone similar lesional tattooing who then have blackened nodes clearly evident in their mesentery at the time of definitive laparoscopic resection (Fig.…”

The effect of colonoscopic tattooing on lymph node retrieval and sentinel lymph node mapping

“…9 Colonoscopic tattooing also could serve as a method for sentinel LN mapping, although it might not discriminate between first and second echelon nodes. 10 The aim of sentinel LN mapping in CRC is not to reduce the extent of the resection, as is common practice in breast cancer surgery, but it refines staging by marking the LNs most likely to contain metastases. These specific nodes can then be subjected to more labor-intensive staging methods by the pathologist, such as multiple sectioning and immunohistochemical analysis, thereby increasing the percentage of patients staged at N1 8 by detecting occult tumor cells.…”