INTRAOPERATIVE DETECTION OF TUMOR RESIDUES USING BETA-RADIATION AND CORRESPONDING PROBES

摘要

The invention relates to the use of β− emitting radiolabeled tracers for administration to a patient prior to radio-guided surgery, and to the corresponding probes designed to intraoperatively detect β− decays from cancerous tissues so as to locate even small cancerous remnants still present after resection of the main cancerous lesions. The β− emitting radiolabeled tracer is labeled with a radioisotope undergoing exclusively β− decays or a radioisotope undergoing β− decays and having no more than 10-11% of γ rays decays. The corresponding probe has an extension direction along a longitudinal axis and has one or more blocks of scintillating material, each one having a main extension parallel to the longitudinal axis and transversal dimensions smaller than 3 mm, with each of the blocks being partially shielded by a material that is inactive with respect to β− radiation.