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New Alternative Techniques for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Subiksha Subramonian1, Sharat Chopra2, Raghavan Vidya3
1Royal London Hospital, London E1 1FR, UK.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|December 23, 2023
Summary
Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence and magnetic tracers are effective alternatives to traditional sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) methods. These innovative techniques show comparable localization rates, paving the way for improved oncologic diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is crucial for cancer staging.
- Traditional SLNB methods utilize blue dye and radioisotopes.
- There is a need for alternative, potentially safer and more effective SLNB techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze alternative methods to the conventional blue dye/radioisotope SLNB.
- To compare the outcomes of alternative SLNB tracers with traditional techniques.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of fifteen articles was conducted.
- Methods evaluated included indocyanine green (ICG), magnetic tracers, one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA), talaporfin sodium, sulphur hexafluoride gas microbubbles, and CT-guided lymphography.
- Data on sentinel node detection rates were extracted and compared.
Main Results:
- Indocyanine green (ICG) demonstrated sentinel node detection rates of 69-100%.
- Magnetic tracers achieved detection rates of 91.67-100%.
- One-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) showed rates of 82.7-100%.
Conclusions:
- Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence and magnetic tracers are non-inferior to traditional SLNB methods.
- Further research is needed to explore combined use of these techniques and their cost-effectiveness.
- Longer-term outcome studies are essential for widespread adoption.
