Comparison of Fluorescein-INtra-VItal Microscopy Versus Conventional Frozen Section Diagnosis for intraOperative Histopathological Evaluation

In neurosurgery, intraoperative histopathological frozen section analysis (cryosection) offers a crucial tool for the rapid assessment of tumor entity and dignity and the creation of tumor-free resection margins. The method, however, remains unreliable and time-consuming, sometimes prolonging surgical times and demonstrating diagnostic accuracy for frozen section in glioma ranging from 78.4% to 95% in comparison to the final histopathology, depending on the technique used.2,3 To combat these shortcomings, another promising adjunct was developed in the form of intraoperative dye-dependent in-vivo microscopy, for which there has been little scientific evidence so far, with only a few recent studies exploring its utility, safety and general applicability. The theoretical idea of the technique in principle is to allow for histopathological assessment of tumor tissue in-vivo without the need for time-consuming fixation and transport of resected tissue biopsies, aiming for a so-called in-situ digital biopsy and thereby substantially improving operative precision and surgical times. It stands to reason that the benefit in visualization provided by fluorescein staining may further be driven through in-vivo microscopy. Altogether, with the use of fluorescein sodium in in-vivo microscopy, the operating surgeon may in the future inspect supposedly malignant fluorescent tissue first-hand, evaluate it for tumorous cells in real-time and adjust their resection strategy in a far more immediate fashion.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Signed informed consent
• Suspected intracranial tumor revealed by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (according to clinical routine) scheduled for resection with intraoperative frozen section evaluation

Exclusion criteria

• Known allergic or suspected allergic reactions to fluorescein sodium
• Liver disease, CHILD B or C
• Patients under medication with beta-blockers, digoxin, chinidin and probenecid as well as inhibitors of glucuronidation, such as immunosuppressants, when the medication must not be discontinued perioperatively
• Patients with relevant congenital limitations of glucuronidation performance (e.g. Rotor syndrome, Gilbert-Meulengracht syndrome, Crigler-Najjar syndrome)
• Patients with terminal renal failure requiring hemodialysis
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Pregnancy (incl. positive pregnancy test)
• Women of childbearing age must be non-lactating and surgically sterile or using a highly effective method of birth control and have a negative pregnancy test. Acceptable methods of birth control with a low failure rate (i.e. less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correct are such as implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), sexual abstinence or vasectomized partner.