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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 VI.

Module 4-Potential advantages, disadvantages, and limitations

Statements voted upon No. of votes Voting, % Most common response No. of rounds Consensus, %
Consensus reached
 Fluorescent imaging for SLN identification has the potential to significantly change gastric cancer surgery practice. 19 86.4 Agree 1 94.7
 FIþICG makes SLN dissection feasible (doable and useful) laparoscopically (as a single agent or as part of a dual-agent regimen). 21 95.5 Agree 1 90.5
 FIþICG improves SLN accuracy over standard agents (as a single agent or as part of a dual-agent regimen). 19 86.4 Agree 1 89.5
 FIþICG improves SLN sensitivity over standard agents (as a single agent or as part of a dual-agent regimen). 18 90.0 Agree 2 88.9
 Increased operating time is a significant limitation of using FI during gastric cancer surgery. 21 95.5 Disagree 1 85.7
 Inadequate empirical evidence supporting efficacy is a major barrier to performing FI during gastric cancer surgery. 21 95.5 Agree 1 85.7
 Equipment unavailability is a major barrier to using fluorescence imaging during gastric cancer surgery. 18 90.0 Agree 2 83.3
 Fluorescent molecules are needed that specifically target either lymph node (eg, tilmanocept) or tumoral binding sites before SLN identification can become standard of care for gastric cancer. 20 90.9 Agree 1 80.0
 Fluorescent imaging for SLN identification is necessary for all gastric cancer surgery. 21 95.5 Disagree 1 76.2
 Regulatory issues are a major barrier to using fluorescence imaging during gastric cancer surgery. 19 95.0 Disagree 2 73.7
 Identifying suitable surgical candidates who might benefit from FI is a major barrier to its use during gastric cancer surgery. 19 95.0 Disagree 2 73.7
No consensus reached
 Background fluorescence is a significant disadvantage of using FI during gastric cancer surgery. 19 95.0 Agree 2 68.4
 FIþICG improves SLN specificity over standard agents (as a single agent or as part of a dual-agent regimen). 18 90.0 Agree 2 66.7
 Fluorescence angiography significantly impacts the way that gastric cancer surgery is performed. 18 90.0% Agree 2 61.1
 Inadequate fluorescence and the need for repeat dosing is a major limitation of FI during gastric cancer surgery. 19 95.0% Agree 2 57.9

Average consensus = 78.4%.

FI, fluorescence imaging; ICG, indocyanine green; NIR, near-infrared; SLN, sentinel lymph node.