Near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is gaining clinical acceptance over the last years and has been used for detection of lymph nodes, several tumor types, vital structures and tissue perfusion. ...This review focuses on NIR fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green and methylene blue for different clinical applications in abdominal surgery with an emphasis on oncology, based on a systematic literature search. Furthermore, practical information on doses, injection times, and intraoperative use are provided.
The typical method for creating targeted contrast agents requires covalent conjugation of separate targeting and fluorophore domains. In this study, we demonstrate that it is possible to create ...near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores with different tissue specificities driven by their inherent chemical structures. Thus, a single compact molecule performs both targeting and imaging. We use this strategy to solve a major problem in head and neck surgery: the identification and preservation of parathyroid and thyroid glands. We synthesized 700-nm and 800-nm halogenated fluorophores that show high uptake into these glands after a single intravenous (IV) injection of 0.06 mg kg(-1) in a pig. By using a dual-channel NIR imaging system, we observed-in real time and with high sensitivity-the unambiguous distinction of parathyroid and thyroid glands simultaneously in the context of blood and surrounding soft tissue. This novel technology lays a foundation for performing head and neck surgery with increased precision and efficiency along with potentially lower morbidity, and it provides a general strategy for developing targeted NIR fluorophores.
Background
Tumor recurrence after radical resection of hepatic tumors is not uncommon, suggesting that malignant lesions are missed during surgery. Intraoperative navigation using fluorescence ...guidance is an innovative technique enabling real-time identification of (sub)capsular liver tumors. The objective of the current study was to compare fluorescence imaging (FI) and conventional imaging modalities for laparoscopic detection of both primary and metastatic tumors in the liver.
Methods
Patients undergoing laparoscopic resection of a malignant hepatic tumor were eligible for inclusion. Patients received standard of care, including preoperative CT and/or MRI. In addition, 10 mg indocyanine green was intravenously administered 1 day prior to surgery. After introduction of the laparoscope, inspection, FI, and laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) were performed. Histopathological examination of resected suspect tissue was considered the gold standard.
Results
Twenty-two patients suspected of having hepatocellular carcinoma (
n
= 4), cholangiocarcinoma (
n
= 2) or liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (
n
= 12), uveal melanoma (
n
= 2), and breast cancer (
n
= 2) were included. Two patients were excluded because their surgery was unexpectedly postponed several days. Twenty-six malignancies were resected in the remaining 20 patients. Sensitivity for various modalities was 80 % (CT), 84 % (MRI), 62 % (inspection), 86 % (LUS), and 92 % (FI), respectively. Three metastases (12 %) were identified solely by FI. All 26 malignancies could be detected by combining LUS and FI (100 % sensitivity).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates added value of FI during laparoscopic resections of several hepatic tumors. Although larger series will be needed to confirm long-term patient outcome, the technology already aids the surgeon by providing real-time fluorescence guidance.
Background
Ocular melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy and has a very poor prognosis once liver metastases occur. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the efficacy ...and safety of percutaneous hepatic perfusion with melphalan (M-PHP) using the new second-generation (GEN 2) hemofiltration system in patients with ocular melanoma metastases confined to the liver.
Methods
Prospective, single-center, single-arm, phase II study including patients with unresectable ocular melanoma metastases confined to the liver. Treatment consisted of two M-PHP procedures at 6–8 weeks interval. Procedures were performed using the CHEMOSAT (GEN 2) system with 3 mg/kg melphalan. Primary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR) and best overall response (BOR). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), hepatic PFS (hPFS), and safety.
Results
Sixty-four M-PHP procedures were performed in 35 patients between February 2014 and June 2017. The ORR was 72%. BOR was as follows: complete response in 3%, partial response in 69%, stable disease in 13%, and progressive disease in 16%. There was no treatment-related mortality. Fourteen serious adverse events occurred. At a median follow-up of 19.1 months (range 5.6–69.5), median OS was 19.1 months and was significantly longer in responders than in nonresponders (27.5 vs. 11.9 months, p < 0.001). The 1- and 2-year OS was 77% and 43%, respectively. PFS and hPFS were 7.6 and 11.2 months, respectively.
Conclusions
M-PHP using the GEN 2 filter can achieve a high ORR and prolonged survival in patients with liver-only ocular melanoma metastases.
Iatrogenic injury of the ureters is a feared complication of abdominal surgery. Zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophores are molecules with geometrically-balanced, electrically-neutral surface charge, ...which leads to renal-exclusive clearance and ultralow non-specific background binding. Such molecules could solve the ureter mapping problem by providing real-time anatomic and functional imaging, even through intact peritoneum. Here we present the first-in-human experience of this chemical class, as well as the efficacy study in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominopelvic surgery. The zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophore ZW800-1 is safe, has pharmacokinetic properties consistent with an ideal blood pool agent, and rapid elimination into urine after a single low-dose intravenous injection. Visualization of structure and function of the ureters starts within minutes after ZW800-1 injection and lasts several hours. Zwitterionic near-infrared fluorophores add value during laparoscopic abdominopelvic surgeries and could potentially decrease iatrogenic urethral injury. Moreover, ZW800-1 is engineered for one-step covalent conjugatability, creating possibilities for developing novel targeted ligands.
Incomplete oncologic resections and damage to vital structures during colorectal cancer surgery increases morbidity and mortality. Moreover, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has become the standard ...treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer, where subsequent downstaging can make identification of the primary tumor more challenging during surgery. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging can aid surgeons by providing real-time visualization of tumors and vital structures during surgery.
We present the first-in-human clinical experience of a novel NIR fluorescent peptide, cRGD-ZW800-1, for the detection of colon cancer. cRGD-ZW800-1 was engineered to have an overall zwitterionic chemical structure and neutral charge to lower nonspecific uptake and thus background fluorescent signal. We performed a phase I study in 11 healthy volunteer as well as a phase II feasibility study in 12 patients undergoing an elective colon resection, assessing 0.005, 0.015, and 0.05 mg/kg cRGD-ZW800-1 for the intraoperative visualization of colon cancer.
cRGD-ZW800-1 appears safe, and exhibited rapid elimination into urine after a single low intravenous dose. Minimal invasive intraoperative visualization of colon cancer through full-thickness bowel wall was possible after an intravenous bolus injection of 0.05 mg/kg at least 2 hours prior to surgery. Longer intervals between injection and imaging improved the tumor-to-background ratio.
cRGD-ZW800-1 enabled fluorescence imaging of colon cancer in both open and minimal invasive surgeries. Further development of cRGD-ZW800-1 for widespread use in cancer surgery may be warranted given the ubiquitous overexpression of various integrins on different types of tumors and their vasculature.
The concept of medical leadership (ML) can enhance physicians' inclusion in efforts for higher quality healthcare. Despite ML's spiking popularity, only a few countries have built a national taxonomy ...to facilitate ML competency education and training. In this paper we discuss the development of the Dutch ML competency framework with two objectives: to account for the framework's making and to complement to known approaches of developing such frameworks.
We designed a research approach and analyzed data from multiple sources based on Grounded Theory. Facilitated by the Royal Dutch Medical Association, a group of 14 volunteer researchers met over a period of 2.5 years to perform: 1) literature review; 2) individual interviews; 3) focus groups; 4) online surveys; 5) international framework comparison; and 6) comprehensive data synthesis.
The developmental processes that led to the framework provided a taxonomic depiction of ML in Dutch perspective. It can be seen as a canonical 'knowledge artefact' created by a community of practice and comprises of a contemporary definition of ML and 12 domains, each entailing four distinct ML competencies.
This paper demonstrates how a new language for ML can be created in a healthcare system. The success of our approach to capture insights, expectations and demands relating leadership by Dutch physicians depended on close involvement of the Dutch national medical associations and a nationally active community of practice; voluntary work of diverse researchers and medical practitioners and an appropriate research design that used multiple methods and strategies to circumvent reverberation of established opinions and conventionalisms.
The experiences reported here may provide inspiration and guidance for those anticipating similar work in other countries to develop a tailored approach to create a ML framework.
Background: Fluorescence cholangiography using indocyanine green (ICG) can enhance orientation of bile duct anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To ensure clear discrimination between bile ...ducts and liver, the fluorescence ratio between both should be sufficient. This ratio is influenced by the ICG dose and timing of fluorescence imaging. We first systematically identified all strategies for fluorescence cholangiography. Second, we aimed to optimize the dose of ICG and dosing time in a prospective clinical trial. Methods: PubMed was searched for clinical trials studying fluorescence cholangiography. Furthermore, 28 patients planned to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into 7 groups, receiving different intravenous doses (5 or 10 mg ICG) at different time points (0.5, 2, 4, 6, or 24 hours prior to surgery). Results: The systematic review revealed 27 trials including 1057 patients. The majority of studies used 2.5 mg administered within 1 hour before imaging. Imaging 3 to 24 hours after ICG administration was never studied. The clinical trial demonstrated that the highest bile duct-to-liver ratio was achieved 3 to 7 hours after administration of 5 mg and 5 to 25 hours after administration of 10 mg ICG. Up to 3 hours after administration of 5 mg and up to 5 hours after administration of 10 mg ICG, the liver was equally or more fluorescent than the cystic duct, resulting in a ratio ≤1.0. Conclusion: This study shows for the first time that the interval between ICG administration and intraoperative fluorescence cholangiography should be extended. Administering 5 mg ICG at least 3 hours before imaging is easy to implement in everyday clinical practice and results in bile duct-to-liver ratios >1.0.
Abstract Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has emerged as a promising complimentary technique for intraoperative visualization of tumor tissue, lymph nodes and vital structures. In this ...review, the current applications and future opportunities of NIR fluorescence imaging in gynecologic oncology are summarized. Several studies indicate that intraoperative sentinel lymph node identification in vulvar cancer using NIR fluorescence imaging outperforms blue dye staining and provides real-time intraoperative imaging of sentinel lymph nodes. NIR fluorescence imaging can penetrate through several millimeters of tissue, revealing structures just below the tissue surface. Hereby, iatrogenic damage to vital structures, such as the ureter or nerves may be avoided by identification using NIR fluorescence imaging. Tumor-targeted probes are currently being developed and have the potential to improve surgical outcomes of cytoreductive and staging procedures, in particular in ovarian cancer. Research in the near future will be necessary to determine whether this technology has additional value in order to facilitate the surgical procedure, reduce morbidity and improve disease-free and overall survival.
AIM: To investigate feasibility and accuracy of nearinfrared fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green: nanocolloid for sentinel lymph node(SLN) detection in gastric cancer.METHODS: A prospective, ...single-institution, phaseI feasibility trial was conducted. Patients suffering from gastric cancer and planned for gastrectomy were included. During surgery, a subserosal injection of 1.6 m L ICG:Nanocoll was administered around the tumor. NIR fluorescence imaging of the abdominal cavity was performed using the Mini-FLARE? NIR fluorescence imaging system. Lymphatic pathways and SLNs were visualized. Of every detected SLN, the corresponding lymph node station, signal-to-background ratio and histopathological diagnosis was determined. Patients underwent standard-of-care gastrectomy. Detected SLNs outside the standard dissection planes were also resected and evaluated.RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were enrolled. Four patients were excluded because distant metastases were found during surgery or due to technical failure of the injection. In 21 of the remaining 22 patients, at least 1 SLN was detected by NIR Fluorescence imaging(mean 3.1 SLNs; range 1-6). In 8 of the 21 patients, tumor-positive LNs were found. Overall accuracy of the technique was 90%(70%-99%; 95%CI), which decreased by higher p T-stage(100%, 100%, 100%, 90%, 0% for respectively Tx, T1, T2, T3, T4 tumors). All NIR-negative SLNs were completely effaced by tumor. Mean fluorescence signal-to-background ratio of SLNs was 4.4(range 1.4-19.8). In 8 of the 21 patients, SLNs outside the standard resection plane were identified, that contained malignant cells in 2 patients.CONCLUSION: This study shows successful use of ICG:Nanocoll as lymphatic tracer for SLN detection in gastric cancer. Moreover, tumor-containing LNs outside the standard dissection planes were identified.