Development of surgical confocal scanning microscope for intra-operative imaging of brain tumors using near infrared fluorescence: Technicalnote

Abstract

We developed a confocal laser scanning microscope for intra-operative imaging of brain tumors using near infrared fluorescence. The quality of near infrared images of Indocyanine Green (ICG) was compared with the surgical confocal scanning (SCS) microscope and a conventional charge-coupled device (CCD) camera; we compared images of a tube filled with ICG, which was located in the mouse brain. Compared to the CCD camera, the SCS microscope could obtain a more precise image of ICG fluorescence through the brain tissue. In addition, the SCS microscope could image ICG fluorescence clearly in a relatively light room because of elimination of stray light, while the CCD camera required high darkness to obtain ICC images. The present SCS microscope can give useful intra-operative imaging of brain tumors, particularly detection of residual tumor tissues that extend into normal brain tissues. [Neurol Res 2000; 22: 533-536]