Identifying Isolated Glioblastoma Tissues in Human Patients through Their Optical and Spectral Properties

Abstract

Survival rates and health-related quality of life of adult patients suffering from glioblastoma depend significantly on the extent (no residual tumor tissue) and precision (no collateral damage) of the surgical resection. Assistance in defining the borders of the infiltrating component of the glioblastoma would be valuable to improve outcomes. A tissue can be defined by its optical properties : absorption, scattering, intensity of fluorescence, that will give a unique signature. In this work we look at the absorption and scattering coefficients of glioblastoma and control tissues from adult patients using an integrating sphere, spectral measurements were also took on the samples using a fiber endoscope. The preliminary results show the potential of using endogenous fluorescence for intraoperative identification of residual glioblastoma tissue in the wall of the surgical cavity of resection.