Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy for Liver Tumors.

Surgery with fluorescence equipment has improved to treat the malignant viscera, including hepatobiliary and pancreatic neoplasms. In both open and minimally invasive surgeries, optical imaging using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence is used to assess anatomy and function in real time. Here, we review a variety of publications related to clinical applications of NIR fluorescence imaging in liver surgery.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy with indocyanine green lactosome has antineoplastic effects for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Anticancer agents and operating procedures have been developed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, but their prognosis remains poor. It is necessary to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC to improve its prognosis. Lactosome is a core-shell-type polymeric micelle, and enclosing labeling or anticancer agents into this micelle enables drug delivery.

Genipin Inhibits the Induction of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Through the Inhibition of NF-κB Activation in Rat Hepatocytes.

Background/aims: Genipin is a component of Japanese traditional herbal medicine (Kampo), inchinkoto, and is used for the treatment of various liver injuries. However, there are few scientific evidence for its anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms. In inflamed liver, proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β stimulate liver cells, followed by the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Evaluation of fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: We hypothesized that indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence patterns using Clairvivo OPT in resected liver specimens could confirm hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) better than earlier commercial imaging systems. This preclinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of fluorescence imaging as an intraoperative cancer navigation tool.

Methods: ICG fluorescence images of resected specimens from 190 patients with HCC were classified into two groups according to whether high fluorescence was seen in the HCC (high cancerous [HC] group) or in the surrounding liver tissue (high surrounding [HS] group).

Computer-aided liver surgical planning system using CT volumes.

In this paper, we presented our newly developed computer-aided liver surgical planning system for patient-specific treatments by using the patient's CT volumes. The system is composed of three modules, liver segmentation, vessel extraction, and visualization & interaction modules. It can prepare a virtual environment for patient-specific liver surgical planning and simulations.

Novel liver visualization and surgical simulation system.

Background: Successful liver surgery requires an understanding of the patient’s particular liver characteristics, including shape and vessel distribution. In clinical medicine, there is a high demand for surgical assistance systems to assess individual patients. Our aims in this study were to segment the liver based on computed tomography volume data and to develop surgical plans for individual patients.

[A case of a colon cancer patient with liver metastasis subjected to hepatectomy after achieving radiographic complete response with preoperative chemotherapy].

In 2006, a 70-year-old man who underwent low anterior resection for rectal cancer (SS, N0, H1, Stage IV)at a nearby hospital was referred to our hospital. He was noted to have multiple liver metastases of approximately 1 cm in diameter in S2, S3, S6, and S7, and was subsequently treated with chemotherapy for 5 courses of mFOLFOX6 regimen. He achieved a complete response radiographically.

[Clinical applications of indocyanine green-fluorescent imaging to liver surgery].

Background: Intravenous injection of the indocyanine green (ICG) reagent was performed as a liver function test 1 to 2 weeks prior to surgery. ICG fluorescent imaging was performed using the Photodynamic Eye (PDE) infrared camera (Hamamatsu Photonics k. k.