Pre-And Intra-Operative Localization of Penile Sentinel Nodes

Abstract

The invention provides methods for pre- and intra-operatively localizing penile sentinel lymph nodes by injection of fluorescent dyes into penile tumors.

1 . A method of localizing before or during a surgical operation a lymph node draining a penile tumor having edges and a base, in a subject, comprising:
 a) about 10 minutes to 24 hours prior to said surgical operation, injecting the edges or the base of said tumor of said subject with a dye which fluoresces at an emission wavelength when said dye is contacted with an excitation wavelength;   b) exposing said lymph node before or during said operation to illumination comprising said excitation wavelength, thereby causing said fluorescent dye to fluoresce; and,   c) detecting the fluorescence of said dye, thereby localizing said lymph node before or during said surgical operation.   
   
   
       2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said lymph node is a sentinel lymph node. 
   
   
       3 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is injected into the edges of said tumor. 
   
   
       4 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is injected into the base of said tumor. 
   
   
       5 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said lymph node is visualized on a image display. 
   
   
       6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing of said lymph node to excitation wavelength is by a laparoscopic instrument. 
   
   
       7 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said dye is a dye which fluoresces when exposed to near infrared light. 
   
   
       8 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is a tricarbocyanine dye or an analog thereof. 
   
   
       9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the tricarbocyanine dye is indocyanine green. 
   
   
       10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
   
   
       11 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is injected between about 10 minutes and 12 hours before said surgical operation. 
   
   
       12 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is injected between about 1 hour and about 6 hours before said surgical operation. 
   
   
       13 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is injected between about 1 hour and about 2 hours before said surgical operation. 
   
   
       14 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said steps (b) and (c) are performed during said operation. 
   
   
       15 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said operation is a laparoscopic operation.