ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the potential applications of label-free optical interrogation techniques that exploit tissue autofluorescence for enhancing outcomes of brain tumor surgery. Gliomas invade the normal brain parenchyma in finger-like projections, which along with the anatomical location of the tumor itself can make complete tumor resection difficult to achieve without removing functionally significant normal brain tissue. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is one of the most significant endogenous fluorophores in the brain. Fluorescence has also been observed in two extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, aggrecan, and chondroitin sulfate, each of which are found in the brain ECM. A limited number of in vivo experiments evaluating autofluorescence have been performed on rodent brains, though most are demonstrations of proof-of-concept for the instrumentation setup as opposed to studies with statistically powered sample sizes for delineating tissue types. Brain surgery presents one of the most challenging environments to remove tumors due to the critical importance of the adjacent healthy tissues.
