Intraoperative brain tumor resection with indocyanine green using augmented microscopy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Brain cancer treatment outcomes have stagnated, necessitating advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
• Near-infrared (NIR) contrast agents show promise for improving cancer diagnostics and therapies.
• Intraoperative imaging technologies are crucial for effectively utilizing NIR agents during surgery.

Discussion:

• An augmented microscope was utilized with indocyanine green (ICG) for real-time surgical guidance in a rat glioma resection model.
• ICG accumulation in tumor tissue, driven by the enhanced permeation and retention effect across a compromised blood-brain barrier, enabled fluorescence visualization.
• The augmented microscope successfully highlighted tumor regions, demonstrating its capability to guide the surgical resection process.

Key Insights:

• The augmented microscope effectively visualizes ICG fluorescence, delineating tumor tissue from healthy brain parenchyma.
• This technology provides critical intraoperative image guidance for neurosurgical procedures involving brain tumors.
• Successful glioma resection was achieved in a rat model, validating the system's potential.

Outlook:

• Further research can explore the application of this augmented microscopy in human clinical trials for brain tumor surgery.
• Optimization of NIR contrast agents and imaging systems can lead to enhanced precision and efficacy in cancer treatment.
• This approach holds potential for improving surgical outcomes and patient prognosis in neuro-oncology.