In a groundbreaking development, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has conducted the first surgery in the nation utilizing the latest intraoperative PET and CT technology. This cutting-edge procedure aims to enhance surgical outcomes by combining functional information from PET scans with structural details from CT scans to enable early disease detection. The surgical team, led by Michael Topf, MD, performed this pioneering surgery as part of a study to demonstrate the procedure’s effectiveness using Xeos’ Aura 10 scanner.
During each surgery, the Aura 10 scanner is brought into the operating room to image resected tumors, providing real-time insights for accurate staging, therapy response assessment, and detecting recurrent disease. This innovative technology allows surgeons to immediately evaluate the success of tumor removal in achieving a negative margin, crucial for reducing cancer recurrence risk and improving patient survival rates.
Michael Topf emphasized the significance of this approach in head and neck cancer surgery, highlighting its potential to accurately determine cancer margins compared to conventional microscopic analysis. By employing the intraoperative imaging device, critical information regarding surgical success can be obtained within minutes, revolutionizing real-time patient care and surgical decision-making.
Nicole Jones, a research coordinator IV, underlined the transformative impact of this technology on patient care, streamlining the surgical process and providing immediate feedback on resection outcomes. This real-time assessment eliminates the need for post-operative analysis, offering surgeons valuable insights during surgery and enhancing their confidence in achieving optimal cancer removal.
Dr. Eben Rosenthal, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, praised the technology’s ability to provide immediate post-surgery tumor visualization, offering critical information to surgeons. Additionally, the procedure significantly reduces patient radiation exposure by utilizing a lower dose of FDG, enhancing safety while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Marcus Balanky, Director of Radiation Safety, highlighted the collaborative effort between various departments in implementing this innovative procedure, emphasizing its broad applicability and safety in clinical settings. The surgical team aims to refine workflow processes, ensure radiation safety, and validate the scanning process’s effectiveness within the operating room, further enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes.
Through meticulous coordination and dedication, the research team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has successfully integrated the latest technology into clinical practice, paving the way for more precise and efficient cancer surgeries. This milestone signifies a significant advancement in intraoperative imaging capabilities, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and transforming the landscape of surgical oncology.
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