Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Aug 16, 2024; 12(23): 5288-5293
Published online Aug 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i23.5288
Pay attention to the application of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technology in laparoscopic liver cancer resection
Li-Min Kang, Fu-Wei Zhang, Fa-Kun Yu, Lei Xu
Li-Min Kang, Fu-Wei Zhang, Fa-Kun Yu, Lei Xu, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Puer People's Hospital, Puer 665000, Yunnan Province, China
Author contributions: Kang LM, Zhang FW, Yu FK and Xu L designed the study, performed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Kang LM has read and approve the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Li-Min Kang, PhD, Doctor, Surgeon, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Puer People's Hospital, No. 44 Zhenxing Street, Puer 665000, Yunnan Province, China. kanglimin2010@163.com
Received: March 10, 2024
Revised: May 27, 2024
Accepted: June 7, 2024
Published online: August 16, 2024
Processing time: 116 Days and 19 Hours
Abstract

Traditional laparoscopic liver cancer resection faces challenges, such as difficulties in tumor localization and accurate marking of liver segments, as well as the inability to provide real-time intraoperative navigation. This approach falls short of meeting the demands for precise and anatomical liver resection. The introduction of fluorescence imaging technology, particularly indocyanine green, has demonstrated significant advantages in visualizing bile ducts, tumor localization, segment staining, microscopic lesion display, margin examination, and lymph node visualization. This technology addresses the inherent limitations of traditional laparoscopy, which lacks direct tactile feedback, and is increasingly becoming the standard in laparoscopic procedures. Guided by fluorescence imaging technology, laparoscopic liver cancer resection is poised to become the predominant technique for liver tumor removal, enhancing the accuracy, safety and efficiency of the procedure.

Keywords: Indocyanine green, Fluorescence imaging technology, Laparoscopy, Hepatectomy, Liver tumor

Core Tip: Fluorescence laparoscopic liver cancer resection, such as indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging, offers various advantages including visualizing bile ducts, tumor localization, staining of liver segments, detection of microscopic lesions, assessment of resection margins, and visualization of lymph nodes. This technology addresses the lack of direct tactile feedback in traditional laparoscopy and is becoming the standard in laparoscopic procedures. Fluorescence imaging in guiding laparoscopic liver cancer resection is expected to enhance the accuracy, safety and efficiency of the procedure. However, caution is advised regarding potential drawbacks of ICG fluorescence imaging such as false-positive liver staining and limited tissue penetration.