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Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Multispectral Real-time Fluorescence Imaging for Intraoperative Detection of the Sentinel Lymph Node in Gynecologic Oncology
Published on: October 20, 2010
Infrared Fluorescence-guided Surgery for Tumor and Metastatic Lymph Node Detection in Head and Neck Cancer
Haley W White1, Abdullah Bin Naveed1, Benjamin R Campbell1
1From the University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Mich (H.W.W.); Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2220 Pierce Ave, PRB 754, Nashville, TN 37232 (A.B.N., B.R.C., M.T., E.L.R., M.E.H.); and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (Y.J.L., F.M.B.).
Abstract:
In patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), surgical removal of cancerous tissue presents the best overall survival rate. However, failure to obtain negative margins during resection has remained a steady concern over the past 3 decades. The need for improved tumor removal and margin assessment presents an ongoing concern for the field. While near-infrared agents have long been used in imaging, investigation of these agents for use in HNC imaging has dramatically expanded in the past decade. Targeted tracers for use in primary and metastatic lymph node detection are of particular interest, with panitumumab-IRDye800 as a major candidate in current studies. This review aims to provide an overview of intraoperative near-infrared fluorescence-guided surgery techniques used in the clinical detection of malignant tissue and sentinel lymph nodes in HNC, highlighting current applications, limitations, and future directions for use of this technology within the field. Keywords: Molecular Imaging-Cancer, Fluorescence © RSNA, 2024.
Insights
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging improves head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery by enhancing tumor and lymph node detection. This molecular imaging technique offers better margin assessment for improved patient survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Surgical resection offers the best survival for head and neck cancer (HNC), but incomplete tumor removal remains a challenge.
- Accurate margin assessment is critical for successful HNC treatment and patient outcomes.
- Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has emerged as a promising tool for intraoperative guidance in HNC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications of intraoperative NIR fluorescence-guided surgery for HNC.
- To highlight the use of targeted tracers, such as panitumumab-IRDye800, for detecting malignant tissue and sentinel lymph nodes.
- To discuss the limitations and future directions of NIR fluorescence imaging in HNC surgery.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on NIR fluorescence agents and their application in HNC.
- Focus on techniques for intraoperative visualization of tumors and lymph nodes.
- Analysis of specific tracers like panitumumab-IRDye800 for molecular imaging in HNC.
Main Results:
- NIR fluorescence imaging, particularly with agents like panitumumab-IRDye800, shows significant potential for improving tumor visualization and sentinel lymph node detection in HNC.
- This technology aids in achieving negative margins, potentially leading to better surgical outcomes.
- Current studies demonstrate expanding applications and ongoing investigations into its efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Intraoperative NIR fluorescence-guided surgery represents a significant advancement in HNC management.
- Continued research and development are crucial to overcome current limitations and fully integrate this technology into routine clinical practice.
- The use of targeted tracers offers a pathway to more precise surgical interventions and improved survival for HNC patients.
