The authors of this study retrospectively reviewed the surgical charts of seven patients who underwent parotidectomy for tumour resection. In all these patients, Fluorescein sodium was used to enhance the contrast between parotid tumour tissue and the facial nerve. Using the YELLOW 560 nm filter on the Pentero Zeiss microscope, the authors evaluated the contrast between the facial nerve and the surrounding tumour, gland and blood vessels. They observed that residual tumour was successfully detected in two patients with fluorescein and YELLOW filter which would most likely have been left behind if it had been seen under the white light of the microscope alone. This is an interesting preliminary study and further studies from other groups will help intraoperative differentiation of facial nerve and parotid tumours.
Fluorescein use during parotidectomy
Reviewed by Gauri Mankekar
Fluorescein sodium guided surgery of parotid gland tumors as a technical advance.
CONTRIBUTOR
Gauri Mankekar
Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
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