Robot-assisted ICG-guided Sentinel Node Biopsy in Testicular Cancer

The sentinel lymph node biopsy in testicular cancer is a novel technique that has not been extensively studied. This technique shows promise and could potentially become the future standard in the primary diagnosis of testicular cancer in clinical stage I.

In cases of clinical stage I testicular cancer, 20% to 30% of patients experience a recurrence. Strategies such as adjuvant chemotherapy or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection can reduce the risk of recurrence to 2% and 9%, respectively. However, the issue with these strategies is that the majority of patients may receive unnecessary treatment and endure the toxicity of chemotherapy or surgery. German and European guidelines recommend a risk-adapted approach. Testicular tumor patients with specific histopathological features are classified into low and high risk, with adjuvant therapy recommended accordingly. This strategy allows for more targeted treatment but still maintains a limited sensitivity of approximately 73%.

There have been few studies investigating the possibility of sentinel lymph node diagnostics in testicular cancer. Reasons for this include the rarity of the disease coupled with a lack of experience in minimally invasive surgery for testicular cancer treatment. Previous sentinel lymph node studies utilized the radioligand technique with technetium, which was limited to centers with a nuclear medicine department. With the advancing development of robotics and fluorescence technology using indocyanine green, there is an opportunity for a novel, minimally invasive lymph node diagnostic method applicable on a broader scale for testicular cancer patients.

In previous feasibility studies on sentinel lymph node diagnostics in testicular tumor patients, the use of 99mTC-nanocolloid staining and laparoscopy achieved a 90% sensitivity. The development of a robot-assisted image-guided lymph node resection technique using indocyanine green (ICG) is potentially more precise, easier to apply, and generally more available. Multiple studies in other tumor entities have demonstrated the non-inferiority and superiority of ICG over technetium. This new diagnostic approach could drastically change the treatment for newly diagnosed testicular cancer patients by reducing overtreatment and treatment-related toxicity through a minimally invasive robot-assisted procedure.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinically confirmed unequivocal testicular tumor by palpation and sonography with or without elevation of specific tumor markers AFP and/or ß-HCG.
• Clinical exclusion of metastases in preoperative staging using contrast-enhanced CT of the thorax and abdomen.
• The patient is of legal age.
• The patient can communicate with the investigator without issues or limitations and can understand and sign the patient information and consent form without problems or limitations.

Exclusion criteria

• Testicular tumor with uncertain dignity
• Patients with small testicular masses (< 1 cm)
• Patients with prior scrotal or retroperitoneal surgery for reasons other than a germ cell tumor.
• The patient has received different chemotherapy.
• The patient has undergone retroperitoneal radiotherapy.
• Exclusion criteria for the use of ICG include a history of anaphylactic reactions to ICG and iodine intolerance (ICG solution contains sodium iodide).
• The patient is in a reduced general condition or has a life-threatening illness.
• The patient has a psychiatric illness.