NIRF for Parathyroid Visualization: a Pilot Study

Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Thyroid Disease

Treatments: Device: NIRF imaging in thyroid surgery

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03012438

NL57409.068.16

Details and patient eligibility

About

During surgery in which the thyroid is removed (thyroidectomy), the identification of parathyroid glands, that should be saved, can be challenging. Therefore, there is need for accurate intraoperative guidance. Earlier animal studies show that the parathyroid glands can be identified by the use of the Near Infrared Fluorescent dye Indocyanine green (ICG).

Our hypothesis is therefore, that the use of ICG-based fluorescence imaging during thyroid surgery will provide real-time intraoperative visualization of the parathyroid glands.

This prospective observational feasibility study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the use of ICG in identifying the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery. 30 patients (age >18 years) who are already regularly scheduled for thyroid surgery; i.e. patients undergoing total thyroidectomy are suitable for inclusion. In all patients, undergoing total thyroidectomy infrared fluorescence imaging, using a per-operative intravenous injection of 7.5 mg ICG, will be tested on feasibility and imaging characteristics.

Full description

In this study, the feasibility of the use of NIR fluorescence imaging for the identification of the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery will be explored.

Per-operatively: The surgery will start as usual. When the surgeon would normally search for the parathyroid glands, 7.5 mg of ICG will be administered intravenously through the infusion in the patients arm. An intravenous administration is chosen because of the minimal invasive nature and results of the described earlier case series in which ICG was also administered via peripheral infusion. Directly after that, the fluorescence system can be switched to fluorescence mode. The surgeon will determine whether the parathyroid glands are visible now. If needed, due to washout, a second dose of 7.5 mg of ICG can be administered. After identification of the parathyroid glands, surgery will continue as in the standard situation, until there is a desire to visualize the parathyroid glands again, then another dose of ICG can be given. Time until first identification of the parathyroid glands and total surgical time will be measured. After complete removal of the thyroid, another 7.5 mg of ICG will be administered intravenously to visualize the vascularization of the parathyroid gland. The intensity will be subjectively scored: 1 parathyroid black after injection of ICG, 2 partially vascularized, or 3 parathyroid is green; well vascularized. The fluorescence system will be used to record the whole procedure. Directly after the procedure the researcher will ask the surgeon whether he or she thinks the technique is feasible.

Postoperatively: As in standard care, after thyroid surgery, the serum calcium levels will be determined. Low calcium levels can indicate misidentification of parathyroid glands. These calcium levels are determined only in patients after total thyroidectomy on day 1, 2 and after two weeks. Also TSH will be determined after two weeks as in standard care. The thyroid specimen will be send to pathology. In the specimen, the pathologist will search for parathyroid glands, as is standard care. Furthermore, video recordings will be analyzed, quantifying the fluorescence signal compared to the background: measuring the Target to Background Ratio. Also, in these video recordings the time until visualization of the parathyroid glands will be reassessed by an independent expert.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female patients, aged 18 years and above
• Scheduled for elective total or hemi thyroidectomy
• Normal liver and renal function
• No known hypersensitivity for iodine or ICG
• Able to understand the nature of the study procedures
• Willing to participate and give written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 18 years
• Liver or renal insufficiency
• Known ICG, iodine, penicillin or sulfa hypersensitivity
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Not able to understand the nature of the study procedure
• i.v. heparin injection in the last 24h (LMWH not contraindicated)
• Not willing to participate

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

NIRF imaging in thyroid surgery

Experimental group

Description:

7.5 mg ICG is administered i.v. and the system will be switched to fluorescence mode. If needed, a second dose of 7.5 mg ICG can be administered. After identification of the parathyroid glands, surgery will continue until there is a desire to visualize the parathyroid glands again, another dose of ICG can be given. After complete removal of thyroid, another 7.5 mg of ICG will be given to assess the perfusion of the parathyroid gland. Directly after the procedure the researcher will ask the surgeon whether he/she thinks the technique is feasible. After surgery, the serum calcium levels will be determined in patients after total thyroidectomy on day 1, 2 and after two weeks. TSH will be determined after 2 weeks. The thyroid specimen will be send to pathology. In the specimen, the pathologist will search for parathyroid glands. Video recordings will be analyzed, quantifying the fluorescence signal compared to the background: measuring the TBR.

Treatment:

Device: NIRF imaging in thyroid surgery