Colonic tattooing in laparoscopic surgery – making the mark?

Abstract

India ink is a reliable method of marking tumour location within the colon as prelude to laparoscopic resection. Surgeons must, however, be aware of potential complications associated with this technique.

Endoscopic localization of colorectal cancer: Study of its accuracy and possible error factors

“…The need of an accurate preoperative localization of the tumor has brought the development of different endoscopic techniques in order to facilitate further tumor identification at the time of surgery, including the use of clips (21)(22)(23) and peritumoral submucosal tattooing (1,22,(24)(25)(26). More recently, the use of new technologies as the "scope guide" or "magnetic endoscopic imaging" has been proposed in order to identify the position of the endoscope in the colon (5,21,27), therefore facilitating detected lesions location.…”

Simple and reliable method for tumor localization during totally laparoscopic gastrectomy: intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography combined with tattooing

“…Preoperative tattooing with dye injection is probably the simplest of these, and is often used in colon surgery [17][18][19]. However, as observed in this study, the injected dye can easily spread across the serosal surface in the case of gastric surgery, which sometimes makes it difficult to …”

Preoperative Localization of Colorectal Tumors with Endoscopic Tattooing for Laparoscopic Surgery

“…Carbon from the India ink is mainly located in the macrophages of the submucosa and lamina propria. There is evidence to suggest that carbon exposure to other organs such as the lungs has no association with the development of cancer [8]. According to a large review of 447 cases by Nizam et al, the risk of clinical complications was only 0.22% with the use of India ink in colonic tattooing [11].…”

“…It is a permanent marker demonstrated to persist for at least 10 years in patients [5]. Its permanence may be due to the lack of local lymphatics to remove these inert particles [8]. Many endoscopists use SPOT® endoscopic marker (GI Supply, Camp Hill, PA), which is a prepackaged biocompatible agent containing highly purified, very fine carbon particles [8].…”

“…Its permanence may be due to the lack of local lymphatics to remove these inert particles [8]. Many endoscopists use SPOT® endoscopic marker (GI Supply, Camp Hill, PA), which is a prepackaged biocompatible agent containing highly purified, very fine carbon particles [8]. These particles remain in the submucosal injection site creating a permanent mark.…”