Advances in surgical techniques for gastric cancer: Indocyanine green and near-infrared fluorescence imaging. Is it ready for prime time?

Abstract

Surgery is still the primary curative treatment for gastric cancer, which includes resection of the tumor with adequate margins and extended lymphadenectomy. In order to improve the operative results and the quality of life of patients, several endeavors have been made toward precision medicine through image-guided surgery, allowing access to real-time intraoperative anatomy and accurate tumor staging. The goal of the surgeon is to achieve a more precise, individualized, and less invasive surgery without compromising oncological efficiency and safety. In this perspective, we have demonstrated the role of indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging method in gastric cancer surgery. This technique may be used to improve localization of the tumor, detection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), real-time lymphatic mapping, and blood flow assessment (anastomosis perfusion).