Article Details

Purpose: In certain patients with breast cancer, the need for Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) during mastectomy surgery is uncertain. Delayed SLNB has emerged as a potential solution. This study explores the feasibility of delayed SLNB using indocyanine green (ICG).
Materials and Methods: Intradermal ICG was administered to two patients at 1 and 3 weeks prior to breast surgery. On the day of surgery, standard SLNB was performed using blue dye or technetium-99 (Tc-99). SLNs identified as fluorescent (green), blue, or radioactive “hot” were excised.
Results: ICG-stained (green) SLNs were successfully identified in both patients at the time of surgery. ICG demonstrated retention within SLNs for up to 3 weeks, both in the setting of upfront surgery and following neoadjuvant systemic therapy.
Conclusions: ICG can persist within sentinel lymph nodes for up to 3 weeks after injection, supporting its potential role as a safe and cost-effective tracer for delayed SLNB.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Ductal carcinoma in-situ; Mastectomy; Indocyanine green, delayed sentinel lymph node biopsy