Effect of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Sodium Fluorescein on the Extent of Resection in High-Grade Gliomas and Brain Metastasis
Lasse Cramer Ahrens, Mathias Green Krabbenhøft, Rasmus Würgler Hansen, Nikola Mikic, Christian Bonde Pedersen, Frantz Rom Poulsen, Anders Rosendal Korshoej
Abstract
Surgery is essential in the treatment of high-grade gliomas (HGG) and gross total resection (GTR) is known to increase the overall survival and progression-free survival. Several studies have shown that fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) increases GTR considerably compared to white light surgery (65% vs. 36%). In recent years, sodium fluorescein (SF) has become an increasingly popular agent for fluorescence-guided surgery due to numerous utility benefits compared to 5-ALA, including lower cost, non-toxicity, easy administration during surgery and a wide indication range covering all contrast-enhancing lesions with disruption of the blood-brain barrier in the CNS. However, currently, SF is an off-label agent and the level of evidence for use in HGG surgery is inferior compared to 5-ALA. Here, we give an update and review the latest literature on fluorescence-guided surgery with 5-ALA and SF for brain tumors with emphasis on fluorescence-guided surgery in HGG and brain metastases. Further, we assess the advantages and disadvantages of both fluorophores and discuss their future perspectives.