Clinical apllication of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical application of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods 65 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, all were with single lesion, were divided into two groups: preoperative ICG administration group (n=28) and intraoperative ICG administration group (n=37) . In preoperative ICG administration group ICG was given 2 to 14 days before surgery, while in the intraoperative ICG administration group it was given during surgery. ICG mediated near-infrared imaging system was used to observe the tumor and determine surgical margin. Results In the preoperative group, tumors were bright fluorescent imaging, in 6 cases 10 new small lesions were found, with cancer diagnosed in 4 patients, cirrhotic liver nodule in 5 patients, fatty degeneration in 1 patient. In the intraoperative group, tumors were clearly demarcated shadow, 12 new small lesions were found in 8 cases, with cancer being diagnosed in 5 patients, cirrhotic liver nodule in 4 patients, fatty degeneration in 2 patients, hemangioma in 1 patient. Conclusion Both methods can find small lesions, preoperative administration group was better in identifying the nature of the tumor, while the intraoperative administration group was more valuable in determining the boundaries of the tumor. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Hepatectomy; Fluorescence imaging technology; Indocyanine green