The current status and future prospects for molecular imaging-guided precision surgery

Abstract

Molecular imaging technologies are increasingly used to diagnose, monitor, and guide treatment of i.e., cancer. In this review, the current status and future prospects of the use of molecular imaging as an instrument to help realize precision surgery is addressed with focus on the main components that form the conceptual basis of intraoperative molecular imaging. Paramount for successful interventions is the relevance and accessibility of surgical targets. In addition, selection of the correct combination of imaging agents and modalities is critical to visualize both microscopic and bulk disease sites with high affinity and specificity. In this context developments within engineering/imaging physics continue to drive the growth of image-guided surgery. Particularly important herein is enhancement of sensitivity through improved contrast and spatial resolution, features that are critical if sites of cancer involvement are not to be overlooked during surgery. By facilitating the connection between surgical planning and surgical execution, digital surgery technologies such as computer-aided visualization nicely complement these technologies. The complexity of image guidance, combined with the plurality of technologies that are becoming available, also drives the need for evaluation mechanisms that can objectively score the impact that technologies exert on the performance of healthcare professionals and outcome improvement for patients.

Knowledge mapping of application of image-guided surgery in prostate cancer: a bibliometric analysis (2013–2023)

“…Published in Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (IF=254.7, Q1) in 2022, one review written by Pomper Martin G. comprehensively supported the current application and clinical value of molecular imaging technique, pointing a promising future direction of IGS 39 . The latest researches of van Leeuwen Fijs W. B. had focused on the application of robotic surgery and fluorescence guidance in the treatment of PCa 40 – 44 . Two clinical researches 42 , 43 expressed the optimistic prospective of fluorescence imaging-guided robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.…”

Exploring non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection: Current treatment optimization and future indication expansion

“…Near-infrared fluorescent tracers have been employed for tumour navigation in breast cancer, offering real-time and precise information about the tumour for medical professionals[ 9 ]. This technology has been successfully deployed in the field of gastrointestinal cancer, specifically in colorectal tumours, through the utilization of fluorescein-conjugated carcinoembryonic antigen targeted imaging[ 10 ]. If such precision medicine approaches can be designed to identify gastric cancer, effectively label primary and metastatic lesions, and be applied in the management of early-stage cancer patients, their potential impact is also promising.…”

Peptide-Based Agents for Cancer Treatment: Current Applications and Future Directions

“…Indocyanine green (ICG) is one of the most commonly used NIR dyes. While it has an excellent safety profile in humans, ICG is a non-specific agent that is rapidly cleared by the liver and excreted in bile [ 266 , 267 ]. Currently, most strategies for NIR dyes, including ICG, use conjugation technologies with targeting motifs such as peptides [ 268 ].…”