Background: Stereotactic brain biopsy for eloquent area brain tumours is associated with complications like hemorrhage due to multiple sampling and increased operative time due to dependence on neuropathologist for frozen section assessment. In order to curb these limitations, we investigated the use of Fluorescein sodium fluorescence in confirming pathological tissue samples in stereotactic brain biopsy of gadolinium-enhancing tumours.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 23 consecutive patients who underwent stereotactic biopsy of gadolinium-contrast-enhancing brain lesions with intravenous fluorescein sodium administration. 93 specimens were obtained and examined for the presence of fluorescence using a microscope with fluorescence visualisation capability. Later the nature of the samples was confirmed on histopathology. The sensitivity and specificity of flourescein sodium fluorescence were calculated based on histopathological confirmation.
Results: 58 (62.3%) fluorescent and 35 (37.6%) nonfluorescent samples were obtained. All fluorescent specimens contained diagnostic tissue appropriate for tumor grading. Of 35 nonfluorescent specimens, 12 (34.3%) did not contain tumor, 11 (31.4%) contained minor hypercellularity or gliosis, and 12 (34.3%) contained tumor with a high proportion of necrosis. The sensitivity and specificity for fluorescein fluorescence were 83% and 100%, respectively.
Conclusions: Fluorescein fluorescence is a handy tool to detect the pathological tissue in stereotactic brain biopsy and may improve its diagnostic accuracy and expedite the procedure.
Keywords: Stereotactic brain biopsy; fluorescein sodium; fluorophore; frozen section.