Abstract
Introduction: With the introduction of the hybrid tracer indocyanine green (ICG)-99mTc-nanocolloid, a direct relation between preoperative imaging and intraoperative fluorescence-guidance was established. However, fluorescence guidance is limited by its superficial nature. This study evaluated the feasibility of a nuclear medicine-based navigation concept that allowed intraoperative positioning of a fluorescence camera (FC) in the vicinity of preoperatively defined ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid containing sentinel nodes (SNs). Methods: Five patients with penile cancer scheduled for SN biopsy were injected with ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid followed by preoperative SPECT/CT imaging. The navigation device was used to provide a real-time augmented reality overlay of the SPECT/CT images and video output of the FC. This overlay was then used for FC navigation. Results: SPECT/CT identified thirteen SNs in nine groins. FC navigation was successful for all twelve intraoperatively evaluated SNs (average error: 8.8 mm, range: 0-20 mm). Conclusion: This study reveals the potential benefits of FC navigation during open surgery procedures.
- Molecular Imaging
- Oncology: GU
- Optical
- SPECT/CT
- Augmented-reality
- Fluorescence imaging
- Navigation
- SPECT/CT
- Sentinel node biopsy
- Copyright © 2016 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.