RAISN - Robot-assisted ICG-guided Sentinel Node Biopsy in Testicular Cancer
Robot-assisted image-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (RAISN) in testicular cancer is a novel technique that has not been widely investigated yet. This technique is promising and could be implemented as a future standard in the primary diagnostic work up of clinical stage (CS) I testicular cancer. Current staging strategies have a poor predictive accuracy for occult metastatic disease. So far, feasibility studies used 99mTC-nanocolloid staining and laparoscopy and all patients with tumor-positive nodes received adjuvant systemic treatment. The development of a robot-assisted image-guided lymph node resection technique with indocyanine green (ICG) is potentially more precise, easier to apply and widely available. With this new diagnostic approach the management of newly diagnosed testicular cancer patients might be changed dramatically by reducing overtreatment and treatment-related toxicity with a minimally invasive robot-assisted procedure.
• 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.