🔍 Key Findings
- Six dogs with thyroid carcinoma underwent preoperative CT lymphography (CTL) and intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping using methylene blue (MB) and indocyanine green (ICG) with near-infrared (NIR) imaging.
- SLNs were successfully identified in all dogs (6/6).
- SLNs included medial retropharyngeal, cranial deep cervical, and superficial cervical nodes.
- Metastatic carcinoma was found in 3/12 SLNs, in 2/6 dogs.
- Some discordance occurred between CTL and intraoperative SLN findings (partial match in 3/6).
- Protocol modifications (e.g., reduced dye volume, post-exposure injection) improved localization and minimized dye diffusion.
- No intraoperative complications or adverse events occurred.
- Study supports further investigation of combined SLN mapping techniques in canine thyroid cancer.
