A new imaging system that highlights cancerous tissue makes it easier for surgeons to detect and remove tumours without harming surrounding healthy tissue, according to American researchers.

Currently, cancer surgeons have no clear way to determine in real-time whether they’ve removed all of a cancer patient’s cancerous tissue.

The fluorescence-assisted resection and exploration, or FLARE system, consists of a near-infrared (NIR) imaging system, a video monitor and a computer. It shows particular promise for improving surgery for breast, prostate and lung cancers. In advanced stages, the boundaries of these cancers can be difficult to define. FLARE may also help cancer surgeons avoid cutting important structures such as blood vessels and nerves.

Patients are injected with special dyes (NIR fluorphores) that target specific structures such as cancer cells. When exposed to NIR light, the dyes light up the cancer cells which appear on a video monitor.

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