Does the use of indocyanine green fluorescent dye (ICG) reduce the false negative rates in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for melanoma cases?

With MSLT 1& 2, sunbelt melanoma trials showing the importance and prognostic significance of sentinel node biopsies this study set out to reduce the false negative rates in SLNB using fluorescent dye ICG in increasing the accuracy of confirming sentinel nodes. We injected 2.5 mg of ICG intradermally near the primary melanoma sites and followed NCCN guidelines to plan the sentinel node biopsy site. The Near infrared imaging (NIF) cameras were then used to visually confirm the radiotracer mapped nodes. This study had a total of 60 patients and 26 were eligible for a 2 year follow up to determine the false negative rate. In this study ICG confirmed radiotracer mapped nodes in 100% of the cases and there was no recurrence/ false negative result.