A feasibility study (ICG-10) of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence mapping for sentinel lymph node detection in early breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
There is now increasing evidence to support the use of indocyanine green (ICG) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in early breast cancer. The primary objective of this feasibility study (ICG-10) was to determine the sensitivity and safety of ICG fluorescence imaging in sentinel lymph node identification when combined with blue dye and radiocolloid.


METHODS
One hundred women with clinically node negative breast cancer (95 unilateral; 5 bilateral) had sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy using blue dye, radioisotope and ICG. One patient was excluded from analysis and sensitivity, or detection rate, of ICG alone, and in combination with blue dye and/or radioisotope, was calculated for the remaining 104 procedures in 99 patients.


RESULTS
Transcutaneous fluorescent lymphography was visible in all 104 procedures. All 202 true SLNs, defined as blue and/or radioactive, were also fluorescent with ICG. Detection rates were: ICG alone 100%, ICG & blue dye 95.0%, ICG & radioisotope 77.2%, ICG & blue dye & radioisotope 73.1%. Metastases were found in 25 of 201 SLNs (12.4%) and all positive nodes were fluorescent, blue and radioactive. The procedural node positivity rate was 17.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study confirm the high sensitivity of ICG fluorescence for SLN detection in early breast cancer. The combination of ICG and blue dye had the highest nodal sensitivity at 95.0% defining a dual approach to SLN biopsy that avoids the need for radioisotope.
Cambridge Breast Unit, Box 97, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK.
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Wishart
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Loh
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Jones
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Benson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary; D004396:Coloring Agents; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green