Combining diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and ultrasound imaging for resection margin assessment during colorectal cancer surgery

Establishing adequate resection margins during colorectal cancer surgery is challenging. Currently, in up to 30% of the cases the tumor is not completely removed, which emphasizes the lack of a real-time tissue discrimination tool that can assess resection margins up to multiple millimeters in depth. Therefore, we propose to combine spectral...

Comparing in vivo and ex vivo fiberoptic diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in colorectal cancer

In vivo data acquisition using fiberoptic diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is more complicated and less controlled compared to ex vivo data acquisition. It would be of great benefit if classifiers for in vivo tissue discrimination based on DRS could be trained on data obtained ex vivo. In this study, in vivo and ex vivo DRS measurements...

Tissue diagnosis during colorectal cancer surgery using optical sensing: An in vivo study

Background: In colorectal cancer surgery there is a delicate balance between complete removal of the tumor and sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. Especially in rectal cancer, intraoperative tissue recognition could be of great benefit in preventing positive resection margins and sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. To better...

Influence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on diffuse reflectance spectra of tissue in breast surgery specimens

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) can discriminate different tissue types based on optical characteristics. Since this technology has the ability to detect tumor tissue, several groups have proposed to use DRS for margin assessment during breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. Nowadays, an increasing number of patients with breast...

In vivo nerve identification in head and neck surgery using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Background: Careful identification of nerves during head and neck surgery is essential to prevent nerve damage. Currently, nerves are identified based on anatomy and appearance, optionally combined with electromyography (EMG). In challenging cases, nerve damage is reported in up to 50%. Recently, optical techniques, like diffuse reflectance...

Toward complete oral cavity cancer resection using a handheld diffuse reflectance spectroscopy probe

This ex-vivo study evaluates the feasibility of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for discriminating tumor from healthy tissue, with the aim to develop a technology that can assess resection margins for the presence of tumor cells during oral cavity cancer surgery. Diffuse reflectance spectra were acquired on fresh surgical specimens...

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for real-time tissue assessment during colorectal cancer surgery

Colorectal surgery is the standard treatment for patients with colorectal cancer. To overcome two of the main challenges, the circumferential resection margin and postoperative complications, real-time tissue assessment could be of great benefit during surgery. In this ex vivo study, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) was used to...