The FLARE™ Intraoperative Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging System: A First-in-Human Clinical Trial in Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping
SL Troyan, V Kianzad, SL Gibbs-Strauss… - Annals of surgical …, 2009 - Springer
Annals of surgical oncology, 2009•Springer
Background Invisible NIR fluorescent light can provide high sensitivity, high-resolution, and
real-time image-guidance during oncologic surgery, but imaging systems that are presently
available do not display this invisible light in the context of surgical anatomy. The FLARE™
imaging system overcomes this major obstacle. Methods Color video was acquired
simultaneously, and in real-time, along with two independent channels of NIR fluorescence.
Grayscale NIR fluorescence images were converted to visible “pseudo-colors” and overlaid …
real-time image-guidance during oncologic surgery, but imaging systems that are presently
available do not display this invisible light in the context of surgical anatomy. The FLARE™
imaging system overcomes this major obstacle. Methods Color video was acquired
simultaneously, and in real-time, along with two independent channels of NIR fluorescence.
Grayscale NIR fluorescence images were converted to visible “pseudo-colors” and overlaid …
Background
Invisible NIR fluorescent light can provide high sensitivity, high-resolution, and real-time image-guidance during oncologic surgery, but imaging systems that are presently available do not display this invisible light in the context of surgical anatomy. The FLARE™ imaging system overcomes this major obstacle.
Methods
Color video was acquired simultaneously, and in real-time, along with two independent channels of NIR fluorescence. Grayscale NIR fluorescence images were converted to visible “pseudo-colors” and overlaid onto the color video image. Yorkshire pigs weighing 35 kg (n = 5) were used for final preclinical validation of the imaging system. A six-patient pilot study was conducted in women undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for breast cancer. Subjects received 99mTc-sulfur colloid lymphoscintigraphy. In addition, 12.5 μg of indocyanine green (ICG) diluted in human serum albumin (HSA) was used as an NIR fluorescent lymphatic tracer.
Results
The FLARE™ system permitted facile positioning in the operating room. NIR light did not change the look of the surgical field. Simultaneous pan-lymphatic and SLN mapping was demonstrated in swine using clinically available NIR fluorophores and the dual NIR capabilities of the system. In the pilot clinical trial, a total of nine SLNs were identified by 99mTc- lymphoscintigraphy and nine SLNs were identified by NIR fluorescence, although results differed in two patients. No adverse events were encountered.
Conclusions
We describe the successful clinical translation of a new NIR fluorescence imaging system for image-guided oncologic surgery.
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