Fluorescein vs. Intraoperative MRI in the Resection of Malignant High Grade Glioma

Extent of surgical resection of malignant high grade glioma has been established as one of the most important predictors of overall survival and six-month progression free survival. Unfortunately, it is often difficult in surgery to distinguish between tumor and normal brain. Various technologies have been developed to help the surgeon more readily safely increase extent of resection in order to achieve an improved survival after glioblastoma resection. Fluorescein has been used at some institutions for a number of years to improve visualization of high-grade gliomas enabling their better resection. Intraoperative MRI has also been developed with similar intent, allowing the patient to be imaged intraoperatively to determine extent of resection and any need for further resection prior to leaving the operating room. While there is some evidence these technologies improve extent of resection in comparison to historical controls, they have never been tested against each other in any prospective fashion.

Intraoperative MRI has significant cost and significantly increases operative time. Fluorescein is a very inexpensive injectable agent and, if as good at achieving gross total resection as intraoperative MRI, would offer patients similar surgical outcomes with less anesthetic time and cost than intraoperative MRI. This study aims to investigate the value of fluorescein or intraoperative MRI in malignant glioma patients' extent of tumor resection in a prospectively randomized manner.