Review

A comprehensive overview of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

Stephen P Povoski¹ , Ryan L Neff¹ , Cathy M Mojzisik^1,2 , David M O'Malley³ , George H Hinkle^2,4 , Nathan C Hall² , Douglas A Murrey Jr² , Michael V Knopp² and Edward W Martin Jr¹

¹  Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

²  Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

³  Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

⁴  College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

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World Journal of Surgical Oncology 2009, 7:11doi:10.1186/1477-7819-7-11

Published:	27 January 2009

Abstract

The concept of radioguided surgery, which was first developed some 60 years ago, involves the use of a radiation detection probe system for the intraoperative detection of radionuclides. The use of gamma detection probe technology in radioguided surgery has tremendously expanded and has evolved into what is now considered an established discipline within the practice of surgery, revolutionizing the surgical management of many malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer, as well as the surgical management of parathyroid disease. The impact of radioguided surgery on the surgical management of cancer patients includes providing vital and real-time information to the surgeon regarding the location and extent of disease, as well as regarding the assessment of surgical resection margins. Additionally, it has allowed the surgeon to minimize the surgical invasiveness of many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, while still maintaining maximum benefit to the cancer patient. In the current review, we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the history, technical aspects, and clinical applications of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology.