A Growing Problem
With more than 300,000 new cases reported each year, CNS tumours are a significant cause of cancer-related diseases and deaths, and the numbers are increasing.
Diagnosing the specific type of brain tumour in every single case requires that a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken.
The typical procedure is to direct a needle by calculating a trajectory from a small burr hole in the skull towards a radiographically visualized target. However, the brain is not a strictly fixed tissue, i.e. during the operation the target point for sampling may no longer correspond to the preoperative images, which means that in up to 25% of cases results may be inconclusive, furthermore complications may occur in up to 10% or more, mainly due to haemorrhages, possibly causing severe neurological impairment. If tissue samples are sent to a pathologist for assessment, but no tumour tissue can be confirmed, a new biopsy must be taken. This increases the risk of complications and is also time-consuming.
During surgical resection of brain tumours, the aim is to remove as much as possible without damaging the healthy parts of the brain. The most malignant brain tumours infiltrate the healthy brain tissue and can not be differentiated from it with the naked eye, not even through a surgical microscope using white light. Special filters in the microscope are needed to detect fluorescence from certain tissue-staining substances that accumulate specifically in brain tumours. This technique has improved the surgical treatment of brain tumours immensely.
Yet, studies have shown tumour tissue beyond the contrast media enhancing areas on the radiographs and beyond the fluorescence capabilities of the surgical microscopes.
Patented Solution
FluoLink has a unique patented solution for fluorescence visualization of brain tumour tissue during biopsy and during surgical resection. One insertion of the biopsy needle with the high precision optical fiber probe is enough, which reduces the risk of complications. The procedure can be completed in substantially less time, which liberates resources and saves the hospital a significant amount of money.
This solution also reduces the risk of bleeding by using a Doppler technology that allows avoidance of larger blood vessels located in the path of the probe. The probe can be used in depth during resection and can detect tumour tissue not seen through the microscope; it can be used as a flashlight for tumour detection.
