Preliminary experience with intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence imaging in percutaneous sclerotherapy of soft-tissue venous malformations.

BACKGROUND

It has recently been demonstrated that near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging can be used to visualize the blood vasculature. Although sclerotherapy has been successfully used in treating venous malformations, the spread of sclerosant is difficult to monitor during sclerotherapy.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of NIR fluorescence imaging in percutaneous sclerotherapy of soft-tissue venous malformations.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: The use of NIR fluorescence imaging after administration of indocyanine green (ICG) was evaluated in duplex-guided sclerotherapy performed on 15 patients with venous malformations. The lower extremities were involved in seven, the upper extremities in four, and the face in four.

RESULTS

In 13 of the 15 procedures, spotty fluorescence images were obtained, and in eight procedures, linear fluorescence images were obtained. In two patients with intramuscular venous malformations in the lower extremities, no fluorescence images were obtained. Observational depth seemed to be <1 cm below the skin surface with an ICG concentration of 0.01 mg/mL. No complications associated with ICG were observed. Adjacent tissue ulceration occurred in one patient.

CONCLUSION

NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG can be a useful additional monitor for percutaneous sclerotherapy of venous malformations, especially in the face and hands, enabling noninvasive assessment of real-time spread of sclerosant.