Preclinical feasibility of robot‐assisted sentinel lymph node biopsy using multi‐modality magnetic and fluorescence guidance in the head and neck

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader Preclinical feasibility of robot‐assisted sentinel lymph node biopsy using multi‐modality magnetic and fluorescence guidance in the head and neck via Head & Neck Abstract Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a staging procedure dependent on accurate mapping of draining lymphatics via tracers. Robot-assisted SLNB enables access to multiple neck levels with a single incision and intraoperative fluorescence guidance to the SLN. Methods Lymphatic mapping in swine was done using a magnetic tracer and fluorescent dye, injected into the tongue. MRI preoperatively mapped lymphatic spread of the magnetic tracer. Dissection was performed using a da Vinci Xi robot guided by fluorescence-imaging of the dye. Results Robot-assisted SLNB was successfully performed in all animals (n = 5). A novel MRI protocol differentiated SLNs (n = 6) from lower echelon nodes (n = 11) based on flow progression. Fluorescence imaging provided valuable intraoperative guidance and correlated with magnetic-positive nodes. Conclusions This study demonstrates preclinical feasibility of a robot-assisted approach to SLNB using magnetic and fluorescent tracers in the head and neck, enabling both preoperative mapping and intraoperative guidance. View on Web

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