Evaluation of a radioactive and fluorescent hybrid tracer for sentinel lymph node biopsy in head and neck malignancies: prospective randomized clinical trial to compare ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid hybrid tracer versus 99mTc-nanocolloid

摘要

Purpose There is some controversy about the value of sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) in patients with head and neck malignancies. The gold standard for detection and targeted extirpation of the SLN is lymphoscintigraphy with 99mTc-nanocolloid. The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to analyse the feasibility and clinical benefit of a hybrid tracer comprising the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent indocyanine green (ICG) and 99mTc-nanocolloid (ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid) in direct comparison with standard 99mTc-nanocolloid for guiding SLNE in patients with head and neck cutaneous malignancies.