Mauna Kea Endoscope Images Tissue Ablation in Real Time

The endomicroscope Cellvizio from Mauna Kea Technologies SA has been used to monitor treatment of tumors during a study on the use of needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) during interventional radiology procedures.

Professor Afshin Gangi, head of the Imaging Cluster at New Civil Hospital in Strasbourg, France, and his team revealed in vivo microscopic images monitoring the cryoablation on renal tumors and chemoembolization of liver tumors in real time.

Researchers believe the technique could ensure better control of the completeness of ablation, potentially reducing recurrence rates while preserving functional tissue.

"For the first time, we are able to see in real time tissue reaction to a treatment thanks to nCLE technology," Gangi said. "This significant breakthrough opens the possibility to monitor treatment in real time at the most relevant level, in order to spare vital tissue while ensuring completeness of treatment. During chemoembolization procedures the real-time visualization of the drug entering the tumor opens up new horizons towards potential improvement in cancer therapy."

During the study, the team also performed percutaneous liver and kidney biopsies, and radio frequency ablation guided at the microscopic level with nCLE images.

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