Max Witjes and Floris Voskuil, both working in the Department of Oral, Maxillofacial & Maxillofacial Surgery at the UMCG, have conducted several clinical studies on the effect of fluorescence imaging in recent years. This is a technique that visualises tumour cells with a luminescent substance during surgery in the oral cavity.
These studies have shown the added value of using fluorescence imaging during surgical removal of tumours in the head and neck area. It allows better assessment of the cut surfaces during surgery. By using fluorescence, it can be determined immediately during the first operation whether the cut surfaces still contain tumour tissue. This can have many positive consequences for the patient. Because if a cut surface is found to be tumour-free, additional treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy may not be needed, or to a lesser extent.
Witjes and Voskuil's new research is a follow-up. They will work with colleagues at the Illinois Institute of Technology to develop a new fluorescence camera technique called dual aperture fluorescence ratio (dAFR) imaging. This will make fluorescence imaging even more precise, especially more specific in demonstrating tumour tissue at tight cut surfaces. This is expected to take about a year. Next, this technique will be prepared for clinical trials. This technique provides more and more precise information on how close there is tumour to the cut surface. After this, Witjes and Voskuil will actually investigate this technique in tumour removals in the head and neck area. The study will take five years.
