Cited 49 times since 2012 (3.9 per year) source: EuropePMC Gynecologic oncology, Volume 127, Issue 1, 10 2 2012, Pages 126-130 Randomized comparison of near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic tracers for sentinel lymph node mapping of cervical cancer. Schaafsma BE, van der Vorst JR, Gaarenstroom KN, Peters AA, Verbeek FP, de Kroon CD, Trimbos JB, van Poelgeest MI, Frangioni JV, van de Velde CJ, Vahrmeijer AL
Objective
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) has recently been introduced as a novel technique for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping in early-stage cervical cancer. Although preclinical research has shown that ICG adsorbed to human serum albumin (ICG:HSA) improves its performance, the need for HSA has not yet been confirmed in cervical cancer patients. The current randomized study aims to determine whether ICG:HSA offers advantages over using ICG alone.
Methods
Eighteen consecutive early-stage cervical cancer patients scheduled to undergo pelvic lymphadenectomy were included. Prior to surgery, 1.6 mL of 500 μM ICG:HSA or 500 μM ICG alone was injected transvaginally in 4 quadrants around the tumor. The Mini-FLARE imaging system was used for intraoperative NIR fluorescence detection and quantitation.
Results
SLNs were identified intraoperatively in 78% of the patients. Patient and tumor characteristics were equally distributed over both treatment groups. No significant difference in signal-to-background ratio (9.3 vs. 10.1, P=.72) or average number of detected SLNs (2.9 vs 2.7, P=.84) was found between the ICG:HSA group and the ICG alone group, respectively.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this double-blind, randomized trial showed no advantage of ICG:HSA over ICG alone for the SLN procedure in early-stage cervical cancer. Further optimization is required to improve the intraoperative detection rate.
