Fluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Fluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas can effectively diagnose tumor margins.
• Fluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas can effectively increase gross total resection.
• Fluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas can effectively reduce the risk of progression-free survival.

SummaryObjectiveThe present systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze of the advantages of intraoperative fluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas.MethodsSystematic computerized searches of the PubMed and Web of Knowledge were performed. The outcomes included diagnostic value for identification of tumor tissue, gross total resection, and prognosis. The summary receiver operating characteristic curves (SROC), the pooled sensitivities, the pooled specificities, the pooled odd ratio (OR) and the pooled hazard ratio (HR) were estimated by meta-analysis.ResultsTwelve studies were included. The pooled sensitivity and the pooled specificity for identification of tumor tissue was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81–0.87), and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87–0.94), respectively. And the overall weighted AUC of the SROC curve was 0.9520 ± 0.0116. The summary OR of the gross total resection rate in patients with fluorescein-guided resection compared with patients with no fluorescein was 4.372 (95% CI 2.937–6.508). Fluorescein-guided resection was associated with a reduced risk of progression-free survival compared with no fluorescein, with HR 0.73 (95% CI 0.57–0.94, P = 0.01). The pooled HR of overall survival was 1.000 (95% CI 0.960–1.040) between two groups. No significant publication bias was found.ConclusionFluorescence-guided resection of high-grade gliomas is effective for diagnosing tumor margins, increasing gross total resection, and reducing the risk of progression-free survival. But this conclusion should be confirmed by large sample randomized controlled clinical trials.