New microscope used to biopsy brain tumors

PHOENIX, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed a miniature, hand-held microscope that may allow more precise removal of brain tumors.

Neurosurgeons at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix said the miniature laser confocal microscope can view brain tumor regions during surgery and obtain digital images of the tumor and brain tissue. That was not previously possible without taking biopsies of the tissue.

The microscope is used to image the tissue after a fluorescent drug is injected into the patient and travels into the tumor, the scientists said. The technology makes it possible to distinguish cancer cells and the margin of the brain tumor without taking a biopsy. Barrow researchers said they also discovered it was possible to obtain a digital video of the brain tumor to show blood flowing through the abnormal tumor vessels and the transition from normal to abnormal brain tissue.

"As neuropathologists become familiar with the new confocal microscopic appearance of various tumor types and grades, the traditional intraoperative diagnosis may be replaced by the real-time analysis of confocal images by the new microscope," Dr. Mark Preul said, noting such images could be analyzed remotely, improving the accuracy of intraoperative diagnosis.

The research was recently published in the Journal of Neurosurgery.