A comparison of ICG-NIR with blue dye and technetium for the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in vulvar cancer
The sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure for vulva cancer is a safe alternative to a radical inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy (IFLN) for small unifocal tumours. SLN evaluation through biopsy and ultra-staging has helped gynaecological oncology surgeons improve operative morbidity with no cost to oncologic safety. Established techniques for groin SLN detection and excision in vulvar cancer use 92% of patients had a successful SLN procedure. The per-groin detection rate was 84%. All successfully mapped SLN were identified with the combination of ICG-NIR and Incorporation of ICG-NIR into standard SLN mapping protocols may allow for the abandonment of routine use of BD and its poor side effect profile.