[Multimodal method of tissue differentiation in neurooncology using Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence and diffuse...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Optics
• Oncology

Background:

• Accurate intraoperative differentiation of intracranial tumors is crucial for optimizing surgical resection quality.
• Current methods may not sufficiently preserve healthy tissues, leading to recurrence or postoperative neurological deficits.
• There is a need for advanced techniques to improve real-time tumor analysis during surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an optical-spectral method for distinguishing between different types of intracranial tumors.
• To enhance the precision of surgical tumor resection through improved diagnostic capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and spontaneous Raman spectroscopy.
• Analyzed 93 tissue samples from 60 patients with various brain tumors, including glioblastoma, meningioma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and metastasis.
• Investigated endogenous/exogenous fluorophores, tissue structural integrity via light scattering, blood content via hemoglobin absorption, and molecular composition.

Main Results:

• Different intracranial tumor types, indistinguishable by a single spectroscopy mode, could be differentiated using complementary spectral data.
• The combined optical-spectral approach demonstrated potential for enhanced tumor classification.

Conclusions:

• An integrated optical-spectral technique offers advantages for intraoperative differentiation of intracranial tumors.
• This method holds promise for improving surgical decision-making and patient outcomes in neurosurgery.