Abstract
Over the past decade, SLN mapping has become increasingly important in cervical cancer surgery. ICG is the most commonly used tracer due to its high bilateral detection rates, ease of use, and safety. However, there is no consensus on the optimal ICG dose, leading to variability in outcomes. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of different ICG doses on SLN detection in early-stage cervical cancer, identifying the most effective and safe dose for clinical practice. A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed up to May 2024. Studies included assessed SLN mapping using ICG in stage IA2-IIA/IIB cervical cancer. Exclusions were applied to studies not reporting ICG dose or using multiple tracers without dose-specific results. Twelve studies were included, with ICG concentrations ranging from 0.25 mg/mL to 25 mg/mL and injection volumes from 1 to 10 mL. Overall SLN detection rates ranged from 88% to 100%, while bilateral detection rates varied between 74.1% and 98.5%. The most consistent results were obtained with an ICG concentration of 1.25 mg/mL and a 4 mL injection volume. In conclusion, an ICG concentration of 1.25 mg/mL with a 4 mL injection volume is recommended for effective SLN mapping in cervical cancer, achieving high detection rates with minimal variability. Standardizing this dose in clinical practice is suggested to improve reproducibility and outcomes.