Feasibility of real-time near-infrared indocyanine green fluorescence endoscopy for the evaluation of mucosal head and neck lesions

Head Neck. 2017 Feb;39(2):234-240. doi: 10.1002/hed.24570. Epub 2016 Sep 2.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and potential drawbacks of near-infrared (NIR) endoscopy with indocyanine green (ICG) to examine mucosal head and neck lesions.

Methods: NIR ICG endoscopy was applied to image head and neck cancer epithelium in vivo. The evaluation of the ICG videos was performed off-line independently by 2 evaluators and blinded with respect to final histopathological results from biopsies taken as the gold standard.

Results: Forty percent of the lesions from 55 patients were histologically malignant. ICG positivity showed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to be related to a malignant tumor of 90.5%, 90.9%, and 89.1%, respectively. The kappa index for the interobserver assessment showed a 94.4% agreement for the assessment of the ICG positivity. Side effects of the NIR ICG endoscopy did not arise.

Conclusion: NIR ICG endoscopy in patients with mucosal head and neck lesions was feasible and safe. It might help intraoperatively to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 234-240, 2017.

Keywords: diagnostics; fluorescence imaging; head and neck cancer; indocyanine green; near-infrared endoscopy; tumor margin.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fluorescence
  • Germany
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Indocyanine Green*
  • Laryngoscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mucous Membrane / pathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Indocyanine Green