Single-Port Endoscopic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Combined with Indocyanine Green and Carbon Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract PurposeIndocyanine green (ICG) is an efficient tracer method used in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The application of single-port endoscopic-assisted technology in the field of breast cancer is widely accepted. In order to explore the surgical safety of single-port endoscopic-SLNB (SPE-SLNB) and the reliability of axillary staging, we combined it with ICG that was excited by near-infrared fluorescence endoscopy and carbon nanoparticles (CN) as a tracer and compared this method to conventional open SLNB (C-SLNB).MethodsSixty patients with early breast cancer were recruited and divided into three groups. Twenty patients who underwent SPE-SLNB combined with ICG and CNs were placed in group A. Twenty patients who underwent SPE-SLNB with CNs only were placed in group B. Twenty patients who underwent C-SLNB with ICG and CNs were placed in group C.ResultsThe detection rate of SLNs was 100% in group A, 100% in group B, and 95% in group C. In total, 97 SLNs were detected in group A, 65 SLNs were detected in group B, and 98 SLNs were detected in group C . ConclusionThe novel technique of combining ICG and CNs with SPE-SLNB and the utilization of the endoscopic fluorescence imaging system achieved the same detection rate and mean number of SLNs as C-SLNB. Therefore, for patients who meet the indications, SPE-SLNB is as safe and reliable as C-SLNB.