The Effects of Sodium Fluorescein Dyeing of Metastatic Brain Tumors on Surgical Outcomes under Microsurgical Operation

Abstract

Aim:We investigated the reflection of tumor dyeing (staining), an auxiliary technique for the resection of metastases, which are the most prevalent group among brain tumors, via microsurgery.Materials and Methods:Twenty one patients, who were operated under surgical white light, and 27 patients who were operated via sodium fluorescein (FL) dyeing (staining) due to metastatic brain tumors were evaluated retrospectively. The gross total resection (GTR) rates, surgical time, amount of blood loss, and the duration of hospital stay for both groups were compared. The contribution of FL dyeing (staining) to surgery was evaluated for the group with FL dyeing (staining).Results:The study comprised of 48 patients in total. The median age of patients was 61.5 years (minimum: 20, maximum: 80), the average age was 59.1±11.8 years. There was no difference between the group with FL dyeing and the one without dyeing in terms of gender, age, tumor size, GTR rates and surgical time. Blood loss and duration of hospital stay in the FL used group was significantly less. In the group with FL dyeing (staining) (92.5%), this method contributed to the surgery by giving yellow highlights.Conclusion:It has been found out that in the surgery of metastatic brain tumors, FL dyeing decreases the blood loss, shortens the surgical time, and aids in the differentiation of tumor glial tissue.

Keywords

• sodium fluorescein
• microsurgery
• metastatic brain tumors