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Role of near-infrared fluorescence imaging in head and neck cancer surgery: from animal models to humans

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Abstract

Complete resection of head and neck cancers with negative surgical margins improves the prognosis of the disease and decreases the recurrence rate. Near-infrared fluorescence-guided surgery of head and neck cancer is a rapidly evolving field that represents an invaluable tool for tumor detection and resection. Here, we present a literature review of the principles of near-infrared fluorescence imaging and its use in head and neck cancer surgery. We discuss important studies in both animal models and humans that have been carried out up to this point. We also outline the important fluorescent molecules and devices used in head and neck fluorescence imaging-guided surgery. Although near-infrared fluorescence-guided surgery for head and neck cancers showed efficacy in animal models, its use in humans is limited by the small number of fluorescent probes that are approved for clinical use. However, it is considered as a novel surgical aid that helps delineate tumor margins preoperatively and could spare patients from the added morbidity that is associated with additional surgery or chemoradiation. In addition, it is a useful tool to detect sentinel lymph nodes as well as metastatic lymph nodes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Groupe Pasteur Mutualité and the Société Française d’ORL. Authors declare that they have no financial relationship with these organizations.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albert Bonniot Institute, CRI INSERM/UJF U823, BP170, 38042, Grenoble Cedex 9, France

    Ihab Atallah, Clément Milet, Jean-Luc Coll, Christian Adrien Righini & Amandine Hurbin

  2. Joseph Fourier University, 621 Avenue Centrale, 38041, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, France

    Ihab Atallah, Clément Milet, Jean-Luc Coll, Emile Reyt, Christian Adrien Righini & Amandine Hurbin

  3. Grenoble University Hospital, Cs 10217, 38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France

    Ihab Atallah, Emile Reyt & Christian Adrien Righini

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  1. Ihab Atallah
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  2. Clément Milet
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Correspondence to Ihab Atallah.

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C. A. Righini and A. Hurbin contributed equally to this work.

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Atallah, I., Milet, C., Coll, JL. et al. Role of near-infrared fluorescence imaging in head and neck cancer surgery: from animal models to humans. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 272, 2593–2600 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3224-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-014-3224-y

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