Issue 22, 2019

Raman spectroscopy for rapid intra-operative margin analysis of surgically excised tumour specimens

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy, a form of vibrational spectroscopy, has the ability to provide sensitive and specific biochemical analysis of tissue. This review article provides an in-depth analysis of the suitability of different Raman spectroscopy techniques in providing intra-operative margin analysis in a range of solid tumour pathologies. Surgical excision remains the primary treatment of a number of solid organ cancers. Incomplete excision of a tumour and positive margins on histopathological analysis is associated with a worse prognosis, the need for adjuvant therapies with significant side effects and a resulting financial burden. The provision of intra-operative margin analysis of surgically excised tumour specimens would be beneficial for a number of pathologies, as there are no widely adopted and accurate methods of margin analysis, beyond histopathology. The limitations of Raman spectroscopic studies to date are discussed and future work necessary to enable translation to clinical use is identified. We conclude that, although there remain a number of challenges in translating current techniques into a clinically effective tool, studies so far demonstrate that Raman Spectroscopy has the attributes to successfully perform highly accurate intra-operative margin analysis in a clinically relevant environment.

Graphical abstract: Raman spectroscopy for rapid intra-operative margin analysis of surgically excised tumour specimens

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
24 jun 2019
Accepted
07 out 2019
First published
08 out 2019

Analyst, 2019,144, 6479-6496

Raman spectroscopy for rapid intra-operative margin analysis of surgically excised tumour specimens

T. J. E. Hubbard, A. Shore and N. Stone, Analyst, 2019, 144, 6479 DOI: 10.1039/C9AN01163C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements