Analysis of lymphatic drainage pathways using infrared fluorescence in patients with lung cancer

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for analysis of lymphatic drainage pathways from the lobe of the lung affected by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using infrared fluorescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study enrolled patients with NSCLC who underwent anatomic resection of the lung with systematic lymph node dissection and preliminary intraoperative peritumoral injection of indocyanine green conjugate with human albumin. Registration of fluorescence in regional lymph nodes (LN) was carried out immediately after excision of specimen using the FLUM-808 instrumental system. RESULTS: Infrared fluorescence was observed in 117 hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes from 43 patients (2.7 nodes per a patient). Comparison of localization of fluorescent LN with localization of tumor in various lobes established significant variability of lymphatic drainage pathways. CONCLUSION: The developed method of infrared fluorescent evaluation of lymphatic drainage in patients with NSCLC confirms the necessity of systematic lymph node dissection for adequate staging.