Quantitative analysis of peri-intestinal lymph node metastasis using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technology

We evaluated the efficacy of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging compared to that of traditional nanocarbon dyes in assessing peri-intestinal lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer, which is a key prognostic factor. The relationship between indocyanine green fluorescence imaging and histopathological outcomes in patients with colon cancer has also been explored. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients with colon cancer (from May to October 2023) confirmed by surgical pathology. Tumors were marked with indocyanine green (ICG) or nanocarbon via colonoscopy 16 to 24 hours before surgery. Within 15 minutes after surgery, peri-intestinal lymph node fluorescence imaging and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to assess the distribution of cancer foci. The correlation between cancer foci distribution, fluorescence intensity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was measured. Among 243 metastatic lymph nodes from 30 patients, 18 were found. After the patients were divided into metastatic and nonmetastatic groups, significant differences in tumor differentiation and stage were noted (P < .001). The fluorescence intensity was strongly correlated with the presence and proportion of metastasis (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.931), whereas nanocarbon staining showed no significant correlation (P = .81). All P values were two-sided, with P < .05 indicating statistical significance. Lymph nodes with malignant intestinal tumor metastasis displayed weaker ICG fluorescence than did nonmetastatic nodes. Combining ICG and nanocarbon staining techniques enhances intraoperative lymph node dissection and postoperative analysis, indicating their potential utility in colorectal cancer surgery.