Parathyroid identification during thyroid and parathyroid operations: A pilot study evaluating a novel low cost autofluorescence based device.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nThe aim of this study was to develop a low-cost prototype near-infrared fluorescence device that enables contrast-free, real time, high-resolution intraoperative visualization of normal and pathological parathyroid glands (PGs) by imaging their autofluorescence (AF).\n\n\nMETHODS\nA novel near-infrared parathyroid AF (NIR-PAF) imaging device with visible laser PG targeting was developed. The device was evaluated during parathyroid and thyroid operations in a pilot clinical study.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOverall, of the 6 parathyroidectomies carried out in the study population a parathyroid adenoma was found to exhibit AF ex\xa0vivo in 6/6 (100%) of cases, and in\xa0vivo in 3/3 (100%) of these cases. Two of 4 thyroidectomies were evaluated in\xa0vivo and all PGs (6\xa0PGs total) were identified by the NIR-PAF device. The NIRPAF device cost less than $1200 Canadian to build.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe inexpensive NIR-PAF device that we developed can successfully intraoperatively identify both normal and pathological PGs.