Fluorescence-guided surgery of brain abscesses

Commonly, surgical removal of space-occupying brain abscesses (BA), followed by specific or calculated antibiotic treatment is considered the treatment of choice [3 –5]. Complete resection of pus and capsule should always be aimed for, in order to avoid local chronic inflammation of the brain. However, in complex cases, when the BA involves eloquent areas, and/or is multi-focal, at least aspiration of pus is recommended while the capsule can be left undisturb ed. In any case, identification of the BA, especially when small infectious spots are located deeply in the brain, and, for improved differentiation between unaffected brain tissue and the abscess capsule, fluorescence-guidance may enhance in situ visualization.
Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Source Type: research