There is growing interest surrounding real time image-guided surgery in order to minimize unnecessary
procedures, and to optimize surgical treatment. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging system utilizes the characteristic fluorescence spectra of indocyanine green (ICG), which is one of the most common fluorophores. Fluorescence image-guided surgery is now increasingly applied in various clinical fields. We can take advantage of this system to localize tumors, visualize blood/ lymphatic flow, and assess tissue perfusion. However, this system has several drawbacks including low fluorescent yield, signal attenuation by ambient light, and low sensitivity of tracer of interest. Moreover, the imaging device must possess particular features for real time fluorescence overlay on white images, and to use fluorescence-mode
operation under ambient room light, which can pose as a difficulty.
As NIR fluorescence image-guided surgery is non-radioactive, and has a high clinical impact on surgical workflow, the demand is still growing. Though ICG is off-label for fluorescence imaging in USA, ICG is widely applied for sentinel lymph node mapping, tumor resection surgeries, and assessment of tissue perfusion. For SN biopsy for breast cancer, the ICG fluorescence method is now an acceptable alternative to the radioisotope method.
We would like to report current status of fluorescence image-guided surgery in each clinical filed and discuss safety and clinical utility of this novel imaging system. Most commercial fluorescence imagers are based on ICG; however, novel imaging systems are currently under development for use in laparoscopic surgery, as well as open surgery.
We welcome Mini-reviews, Reviews, and Original Research (pre-clinical and clinical studies) in various clinical fields-pertaining safety and clinical utility for fluorescence image-guided surgery, in the following oncology settings:
- Hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery
- Gastro-intestinal surgery
- Breast
- Melanoma
- Head and neck
- Novel fluorescence diagnostic tracers beyond ICG
There is growing interest surrounding real time image-guided surgery in order to minimize unnecessary
procedures, and to optimize surgical treatment. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging system utilizes the characteristic fluorescence spectra of indocyanine green (ICG), which is one of the most common fluorophores. Fluorescence image-guided surgery is now increasingly applied in various clinical fields. We can take advantage of this system to localize tumors, visualize blood/ lymphatic flow, and assess tissue perfusion. However, this system has several drawbacks including low fluorescent yield, signal attenuation by ambient light, and low sensitivity of tracer of interest. Moreover, the imaging device must possess particular features for real time fluorescence overlay on white images, and to use fluorescence-mode
operation under ambient room light, which can pose as a difficulty.
As NIR fluorescence image-guided surgery is non-radioactive, and has a high clinical impact on surgical workflow, the demand is still growing. Though ICG is off-label for fluorescence imaging in USA, ICG is widely applied for sentinel lymph node mapping, tumor resection surgeries, and assessment of tissue perfusion. For SN biopsy for breast cancer, the ICG fluorescence method is now an acceptable alternative to the radioisotope method.
We would like to report current status of fluorescence image-guided surgery in each clinical filed and discuss safety and clinical utility of this novel imaging system. Most commercial fluorescence imagers are based on ICG; however, novel imaging systems are currently under development for use in laparoscopic surgery, as well as open surgery.
We welcome Mini-reviews, Reviews, and Original Research (pre-clinical and clinical studies) in various clinical fields-pertaining safety and clinical utility for fluorescence image-guided surgery, in the following oncology settings:
- Hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery
- Gastro-intestinal surgery
- Breast
- Melanoma
- Head and neck
- Novel fluorescence diagnostic tracers beyond ICG
