Usefulness of Intraoperative Infrared Thermography in Intracranial Surgeries: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

With the advancement of technology in Neurosurgery, imaging guidance for surgical planning and intraoperative assessment has become relevant. Currently, two major methods of imaging guidance are generally explored in the literature, namely based on imaging and fluorescence. These techniques, however, are not without limitations. Thermal imaging has potentially broad applications in clinical practice, especially for intracranial diseases. Infrared thermography (IT) has been an underestimated tool with few reports on its usefulness during intracranial surgeries. In this article, we aim to provide a brief discussion on the limitations of current intraoperative imaging techniques for intracranial surgeries and to provide an in-depth state-of-the-art review on intraoperative IT (IIT) for intracranial lesions. High-resolution IIT is a non-invasive alternative imaging method that provides real-time estimation of regional cerebral blood flow. For brain tumors, the studies were mostly directed to diagnostic purposes and occasionally for lesion-localization. The use of IIT to address the extent of resection is a potential new application. Clinical data in this issue suggests that IIT might detect residual tumors, occasionally not assessed by other imaging technologies. Thermographic measurements during vascular and epilepsy surgeries comprise an interesting field for future research with potential clinical implications. Further experimental and clinical studies should be addressed to provide technical refinements and verify the usefulness of this noninvasive technology in neurosurgery.

Resumo

Com o avanço da tecnologia em neurocirurgia, a orientação do planejamento cirúrgico e da avaliação intraoperatória por métodos de imagem se tornaram extremamente relevantes. Atualmente, dois métodos principais de cirurgia guiada por imagem são geralmente explorados na literatura, ou seja, baseados em imagens e em fluorescência. Essas técnicas, no entanto, apresentam limitações. A termografia infravermelha (TI) tem aplicações potencialmente amplas na prática clínica, especialmente para doenças intracranianas. A TI tem sido uma ferramenta subestimada, com poucos relatos sobre a sua utilidade durante cirurgias intracranianas. Neste artigo, pretendemos fornecer uma breve discussão sobre as limitações das atuais técnicas de imagem intraoperatória para cirurgias intracranianas e fornecer uma revisão aprofundada do estado da arte sobre a TI intraoperatória (TII) para lesões intracranianas. A TII de alta resolução é um método de imagem alternativo não invasivo que fornece estimativa em tempo real do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral regional. Para tumores cerebrais, os estudos foram direcionados principalmente para fins diagnósticos e, ocasionalmente, para localização das lesões. O uso da TII para avaliar a extensão da ressecção é uma nova aplicação em potencial. Os dados clínicos sugerem que a TII pode detectar tumores residuais, ocasionalmente não avaliados por outras tecnologias de imagem. Medidas termográficas durante cirurgias vasculares e de epilepsia constituem um campo interessante para pesquisas futuras com potenciais implicações clínicas. Novos estudos experimentais e clínicos devem ser realizados para fornecer refinamentos técnicos e verificar a utilidade dessa tecnologia não invasiva em neurocirurgia.

Keywords

brain tumors - brain temperature - imaging - infrared imaging - thermography

Palavras-chave

termografia - neurocirurgia - imagem - avanços

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 18. Mai 2023

Angenommen: 26. Januar 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
28. Februar 2024

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