Fresh and refrigerated cadaveric preparations are ideal for experimental sentinel lymph node mapping in dogs.

Fresh and refrigerated canine cadavers are optimal for sentinel lymph node mapping with ICG fluorescence.

This experimental cadaveric study evaluated optimal tissue preparation methods for sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping using indocyanine green (ICG) and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging in dogs. Nine adult mixed-breed canine cadavers were obtained following humane euthanasia and categorized into four preparation groups: fresh, refrigerated, frozen-thawed, and heated (applied to both refrigerated and frozen-thawed specimens). ICG was injected into established lymphosomes targeting the superficial cervical, axillary, superficial inguinal, and popliteal lymph nodes. A total of 64 lymph node specimens were evaluated across all preparation categories. Results demonstrated that fresh and refrigerated cadavers provided consistent, reliable ICG uptake into lymphatic tracts and regional lymph nodes, making them suitable substrates for experimental SLN mapping procedures. Frozen-thawed cadavers exhibited consistent lymphatic tract visualization but unreliable lymph node uptake, likely due to cellular and structural disruption from the freeze-thaw cycle. Notably, heating failed to improve lymph node fluorescence in either refrigerated or frozen-thawed specimens, suggesting thermal manipulation does not compensate for tissue degradation. These findings have important implications for surgical training, technique development, and educational programs involving SLN biopsy—an increasingly relevant procedure in veterinary oncology for staging mast cell tumors and other malignancies. The study provides practical guidance for institutions planning cadaveric surgical laboratories, confirming that refrigerated cadavers represent a viable and logistically accessible alternative when fresh specimens are unavailable.

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