The country’s premier health institute AIIMS has introduced state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging technology that would help surgeons to adopt better line of treatment for patients suffering with breast cancer i,e it would help easily identify cancer-affected tissues during operation.
Till now, all lymph nodes including healthy ones would be removed completely causing significant collateral damage to patient. With Fluorescence Imaging technology we can now save healthy tissue and improve patient safety and outcomes.
However, the technology will help identify relevant tissues intra-operatively, said Dr SVS Deo, Head of the Department of Surgical Oncology at AIIMS.
During breast cancer surgery, surgeons inject a safe and affordable indocyanine green (ICG) dye in patients. Using Fluorescence Imaging technology, surgeons can view blood flow in vessels, micro-vessels, tissue perfusion and critical anatomical structures intra-operatively.
During breast cancer surgery, surgeons inject a safe and affordable indocyanine green (ICG) dye in patients. Using Fluorescence Imaging technology, surgeons can view blood flow in vessels, micro-vessels, tissue perfusion and critical anatomical structures intra-operatively.
Talking about the technology, Dr Deo said “The relevant tissues light up in fluorescent green colour. The reliability and multiple applications of the imaging are a significant differentiation compared to currently used technologies like blue dye.”
The technology uses near-infrared fluorescence imaging during cancer surgery that allows real time, clinically significant and actionable information to improve quality of care, outcomes and safety of patients
Currently, the most common method to detect and remove lymph nodes during surgery is use of blue dye and radiocolloid while using a gamma probe.
“Challenge with gamma probe is that it involves injecting radiation into the patient and is not widely available across healthcare institutes due to regulatory restrictions as well as high operating cost per surgery,” Dr Deo said adding infrared FI technology with its accuracy and precision, not only helps improve patient outcomes, but also provides alternative options compared to current technologies like gamma probe.
Dr David Weintritt, a breast cancer expert from GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, US, who joined one of the workshops held at AIIMS on the use of the technology recently, said during surgery, the technology provides critical information about patient’s anatomy, when information is most important.
This technology can also be used in breast oncoplasty and breast reconstruction post mastectomy.