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Near-Infrared Fluorescence for Precision Breast Surgery in Nonpalpable Lesions: A Case Report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Accurate localization of non-palpable breast lesions remains challenging in clinical practice, and conventional methods carry procedural and patient-comfort limitations. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging via indocyanine green (ICG) provides an innovative approach as a surgical adjunct for real-time, intraoperative visualization of target anatomy. In the context of performing safe surgery, fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) effectively delivers a safe, feasible, and reproducible technique to localize non-palpable breast nodules, sparing the nuisances of suboptimal contemporary alternatives. This is the case of a 47-year-old woman with a BI-RADS 4, non-palpable left breast lesion, who underwent ultrasound-guided injection of a modified ICG solution immediately before surgery. Real-time fluorescence provided delineation of the lesion, and guided skin incision, dissection trajectory, and depth control. This approach underscores the technical feasibility, workflow integration, and intraoperative decision support conveyed by FGS in non-palpable breast lesions. The favorable outcomes of the present case report align with superior outcomes reported in the literature. Nonetheless, a larger, systematic comparison with established localization techniques is warranted to define indications, accuracy, and resource implications for broader surgical adoption.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.94937

Authors: Sebastian Alba Posse, Fernando Dip, Rene Aleman, Alberto Rancati, Diego Sinagra

Institutions: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Cleveland Clinic Florida

Language: English

Topic: Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques

Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4415339391