Surgical Suction Aspirates Fluorescence Measurement

During glioma surgery, the diffuse boundary between healthy tissue and tumor is localized using 5-ALA drug-enhanced fluorescence of cancer cells. Visual fluorescence-based tissue recognition technique using 5-ALA has been shown to improve the rate of tumor removal and slow disease progression. To see the fluorescence typical of cancer, a special light source is needed in the operating microscope. In typical blue light, the fluorescence is visible, but it is more difficult detect anatomical landmarks, such as cerebral blood vessels and cranial nerves, which makes them vulnerable to injuries. Tumor cells can also be unnoticed because of visual obstacles or weak fluorescence, which may lead to local recurrence and reoperations. Unintended tumor remnants are frequent even though many other auxiliary techniques such as MRI guidance, neuronavigation, ultrasound and neurophysiological monitoring are used.

This single center observational study investigates a novel medical device's performance to detect 5-ALA (PpIX) fluorescence from the surgical suction waste. The fluorescence detected by the device is compared to expert's visual evaluation of fluorescence using an operating microscope. The comparison includes the device's feedback, operating videos under blue and white light, anatomical location and the results of histopathological analysis.

In total twenty-five (n=25) patients referred for resection surgery for suspected glioma or its recurrence at the Kuopio University Hospital. The patients are prescribed oral 5-ALA preoperatively according to the institution's practices and the suspected disease. Due to reasons not related to this study (lack of indication), some patients are not administered with 5-ALA. These patients are "control" patients providing reference data from brain tissues without exogenous fluorescent drugs to verify the device's safety and performance.

Informed written consent will be obtained from patients to participate in the study on the new surgical device. The clinical trial is approved by the local research ethics committees and approved by the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea). The investigated device is not CE-marked.