Optical & fluorescence imaging
Dyes that glow under special light, so surgeons can see tumour edges and nerves in the operating theatre.
Indocyanine green for lymphatic mapping and perfusion; 5-ALA (Gleolan) for glioma resection; pafolacianine (Cytalux, folate-receptor targeted) for ovarian and lung cancer; pegulicianine (Lumisight) for breast lumpectomy margin assessment. Targeted near-infrared probes against EGFR, CEA, and PSMA are in trials.
How it works
Fluorophores excited by visible or near-infrared light; camera systems overlay fluorescence onto the surgical view.
- Real-time intraoperative
- Reduces positive margins
- Penetration depth of millimetres
- Needs dedicated camera systems
A drink taken before brain surgery that makes high-grade glioma glow under blue light, letting surgeons remove more tumour safely.
An injected dye that makes ovarian and lung cancer deposits glow during surgery so surgeons can find lesions they would otherwise miss.
A cavity-imaging dye used during breast lumpectomy to spot leftover tumour before the operation ends, reducing second surgeries.
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"optical imaging" OR ABSTRACT:"optical imaging" OR TITLE:"fluorescence imaging" OR ABSTRACT:"fluorescence imaging" OR TITLE:"indocyanine green" OR ABSTRACT:"indocyanine green") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Optical & fluorescence imaging, not a curated reading list.