OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the application value of fluorescence imaging (FI) surgical navigation technology in gastric cancer surgery, and to clarify its impact on surgery-related outcome indicators, providing high-quality evidence for clinical surgical decision-making. METHODS: A computer-based search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases to collect controlled studies comparing FI surgical navigation technology with traditional non-fluorescence imaging (No-FI) navigation technology in gastric cancer surgery, published until April 2026. After quality assessment, meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.1 software. RESULTS: A total of 12 controlled studies were included, involving 1,483 patients (683 in the FI group and 800 in the No-FI group). The meta-analysis results showed that compared with the No-FI group, the FI group had a significantly shorter operative time MD = -11.92, 95% CI (-22.75, -1.10), P = 0.03, hospital stay MD = -0.26, 95% CI (-0.34, -0.18), P < 0.001, and a significantly greater number of lymph nodes dissected MD = 6.02, 95% CI (4.16, 7.89), P < 0.001. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative time to first flatus, anastomotic leakage rate, or overall postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The FI surgical navigation technology can significantly increases the number of lymph nodes dissected and shortens the operative time, hospital stay, showing good clinical application value and warranting clinical promotion.
Chen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.