Fluorescence lifetime imaging for enhanced tumor contrast using exogenous dyes

Oncologic surgery can greatly benefit from imaging techniques for the accurate identification of tumor-positive margins both intraoperatively and in resection specimens immediately following surgery. We have demonstrated clinically that fluorescence lifetime can significantly improve the accuracy for tumor vs. normal classification compared to fluorescence intensity in multiple cancer types using tumor targeted agents. Ongoing efforts by our group towards the translation of fluorescence lifetime imaging for intraoperative image guidance using exogenous agents will also be discussed.