Sentinel node mapping with indocyanine green (ICG) and infrared ray detection in early gastric cancer: an accurate method that enables a limited lymphadenectomy

Abstract

Aim: This study compares lymphatic mapping in early gastric cancer with ICG and infrared ray electronic endoscopy (IREE) to ICG alone. It examines the optimal method for intra-operative detection of metastases and shows long term follow up results.

Methods: 212 patients underwent the SN procedure with IREE and peritumoural ICG injection. Evaluated parameters were detection of sentinel nodes with IREE versus ICG alone, intra-operative detection rate of lymph node (LN) metastasis with node picking versus lymphatic basin dissection (LBD) and lymphatic drainage patterns.

Results: 34 patients had LN metastases. The SN identification rate and sensitivity for IREE versus ICG alone were 99.5 versus 85.8% and 97.0 versus 48.4% respectively. Intra-operative accuracy for detecting LN metastasis was 50% with node picking versus 92.3% with LBD. LN metastases were always in the SN basin. Lymphatic invasion and T-stage were risk factors for nodal metastases. Two patients showed recurrent disease. Both had a tumour with signet cell differentiation. One patient had a T3 tumour, the other patient had a tumour with a diameter of 85 mm.

Conclusion: The SN procedure with IREE can detect the SN and is better than ICG alone. LBD of the SN basin is required for accurate intra-operative diagnosis of metastases. LBD dissection based on IREE is a safe method of nodal dissection in patients with T1 or limited T2 tumours.