Babar Vaqas (Presenter)
Imperial College London
Bio: I am a Neurosurgeon leading the brain application of REIMS: Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry developed by the Takats group at Imperial College. My research interest is developing real time intraoperative characterisation of brain tumors and the assessment of its impact in changing surgical decision making paradigms in Neurosurgery, in order to achieve maximal safe resection of brain tumors.
Authorship: Babar Vaqas (1) (2), Kevin O'Neill (1) (2), Julia Balog (1), Merja Rossi (1),Louise Gildea (1), Luisa Doria (1), Federico Roncaroli (1), Zoltan Takats (1)
(1) Imperial College London (2) Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
| Short Abstract Rapid intraoperative identification of brain tumor tissue has the potential to improve the extent of resection of brain tumors and reduce damage to normal tissue thus improving survival and making surgery safer. A single centre study was designed utilizing Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry with 3D Ultrasound Neuronavigation to help accurately characterize brain tissue. Precise intraoperative readings from different tumor zones were taken and compared to matched core biopsy samples verified by routine histopathology. This has revealed unique in-vivo spectra for different intrinsic brain tumors and normal brain tissue. Intra-tumoral variations may shed important light into intrinsic brain tumor biology. |
Long Abstract
Introduction
Identification of brain tumor tissue remains a formidable challenge during surgery and there is an unmet need for a method to quickly and accurately characterize tumor tissue in real-time. Rapid intraoperative identification of brain tumor tissue has the potential to improve the extent of resection of brain tumors and reduce damage to normal tissue thus improving survival and making surgery safer.
Methods
A single centre prospective observational study was designed involving a consecutive series of 32 patients undergoing craniotomy and resection of WHO grade I, II, III and IV tumors. A neuronavigation system was used to register readings during surgery for brain tumor resection. Precise intraoperative readings from different tumour zones were taken and compared to matched core biopsy samples verified by routine histopathology.
Results
This protocol worked well, allowing in-vivo mass spectrometry readings with high spatial resolution to be taken with accurate histology. Analysis of data from the first 32 cases shows distinct phospholipid spectral patterns for intrinsic brain tumors.
Conclusions
Our neuronavigational platform has revealed unique in-vivo spectra for different intrinsic brain tumors. The in-vivo intra-tumoral variations may shed important light into intrinsic brain tumor biology allowing the surgeon to develop a more stratified approach by targeting tumor areas more likely to recur or become resistant to treatment.
References & Acknowledgements:
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