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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Dec 1.
Published in final edited form as: Surgery. 2022 Dec;172(6 Suppl):S29–S37. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.06.036

Table V.

Module 3-Technical aspects of sentinel node identification during gastric cancer surgery

Statements voted upon No. of votes Voting, % Most common response No. of rounds Consensus, %
Consensus reached
 ICG should be delivered peritumorally. 22 100 Agree 1 100
 When using ICG for SLN identification, the timing of ICG administration is very important. 20 90.9 Agree 1 100
 Research is necessary to determine the optimum dose and concentration of ICG and timing of administration. 22 100 Agree 1 100
 Four-quadrant peritumoral injection yields OPTIMAL SLN identification. 20 90.9 Agree 1 95
 When using ICG for SLN identification, the dose of ICG is very important. 19 86.4 Agree 1 94.7
 When using ICG for SLN identification, the concentration of ICG administered is very important. 19 86.4 Agree 1 94.7
 There is a role for sentinel BASIN imaging in gastric cancer. 19 86.4 Agree 1 89.5
 Using the “pick-up method” the number of “hot” nodes that can be considered SLNs is (1 node; 2–4 nodes; >4 nodes). 18 90 2–4 2 88.9
 The optimal mode of ICG administration when using it for SLN identification is (endoscopicesubmucosal injection; transabdominalesubserosal injection) 22 100 Endoscopically 1 86.4
 If you use radiocolloid, (99m)Tc-colloid or some other agent should be used. 14 70 99mTc 2 85.7
 ICG should only be administered endoscopically (because of cross-contamination when used transabdominally). 19 95 Agree 2 84.2
 The optimal timing of ICG injection prior to imaging with NIR light for SLNs is (on the same day as surgery; on the previous day). 19 95 Same day 2 78.9
 There is a role for SLN basin identification to decrease the extent of LA and, thereby, the incidence of morbidity from more extensive nodal dissection at low-volume* centers. 18 81.8 Agree 1 77.8
 At 5 mg/ml, the optimum dose of ICG to administer for SLN identification during gastric cancer surgery is (<1 mL; 1–5 mL; >5 mL) 22 100 1–5 mL 1 77.3
 >4 injection sites are needed to obtain optimal SLN identification. 19 95 Disagree 2 73.7
 If adequate visualization of SLNs is NOT achieved, the dose of ICG should be repeated. 19 95 Disagree 2 73.7
 ICG and FI is an acceptable single-agent modality for SLN identification. 18 81.8 Agree 1 72.2
 For gastrectomies, ICG, and FI should be used for SLN identification, either as a single agent or as part of a dual agent regimen (N, S, M, A)… 18 90 Sometimes 2 72.2
 There is a role for frozen section of SLNs in deciding on the degree of lymphadenectomy in gastric cancer. 20 90.9 Agree 1 70
No consensus reached
 The dose of ICG to administer for SLN identification during gastric cancer surgery should be determined as (mg/kg; an absolute dose) 19 95 Absolute 2 68.4
 The best identification of SLNs is achieved with radiocolloid + blue dye, FI+ICG, or radiocolloid + FI+ICG. 19 95 FI+ICG 2 63.2
 IF given on the same day, the optimal timing of ICG injection prior to imaging with NIR light for SLNs is (≤10 min before; 10–30 min before; >30 min before) 19 95 11–30 minutes 2 63.2
 Relative to its use in open surgery, use of ICG and NIR technology (for SLNs) has a value in laparoscopic procedures (either as a single or dual-agent regimen) that is… 20 100 ~Same 2 60
 ICG and FI should be used as a SINGLE-AGENT for the identification of SLNs, never, sometimes, most times, always. 19 95 Most times 2 36.8

Average consensus = 78.4%.

99mTc, technetium-99m; FI, fluorescence imaging; ICG, indocyanine green; LA, lymphadenectomy; NIR, near-infrared; (N, S, M, A), never, sometimes, most of the time, always; SLN, sentinel lymph node.