Fluorescent-Guided Method

Fluorescent-guided brain tumor surgery can be considered a kind of neurochemical navigation. Under normal conditions, tumors that originate from brain tissue, some metastases and tumors such as lymphomas might not be completely distinguishable from brain tissue during surgery. The fluorescent-guided method allows cleaning hard to reach tumors easily.

Guides the Operation

This method is used to treat malign brain tumors and lymphomas, and also applies to metastatic tumors. A drug is administered before opening the cranium in fluorescent-guided surgery. This is a drug that has been in use by ophtalmologists in eye angiography since 50 years. This drug adheres to the tumor, and allows us to see the tumor tissue in yellow, in contrast to brain tissue. Normally both of these tissues are whitish, but they look different when viewed under a yellow filter attached to a microscope. Brain tissue looks more pinkish, while tumor tissue looks yellowish.



 

Tumor Depth is No Longer a Problem

The advantage of the fluorescent-guided method is that it allows finding the tumor, regardless of its depth. After reaching the tumor inside the brain, yellow parts are removed. After these parts are eliminated, normal brain tissue can be observed. This method allows removing the whole tumor, and minimizes damage to brain tissue.

Furthermore, it allows performing a brain angiography during surgery to view the blood vessels in the brain, separating these very precious vessels from the tumor in tumor surgery, and better evaluating normal and pathologic anatomy in blood vessel surgery.