Videoscopic fluorescence diagnosis of peritoneal and thoracic metastases from human hepatoblastoma in nude rats.
BACKGROUND
Various medical disciplines are employing photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) when searching for malignancies. It is still unknown whether pediatric solid tumors such as hepatoblastoma are susceptible to this technique as well.


METHODS
Human hepatoblastoma cells were injected into the abdomen or right thoracic cavity of nude rats. Tumor growth was allowed for 7 weeks. Then, photosensitization was induced by peritoneal lavage with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). Applying the Storz PDD system and one 4-mm scope, all animals were investigated by videoscopic white light diagnosis (WD) and PDD. Suspicious lesions were marked and analyzed by spectrometry and histology.


RESULTS
Positive fluorescence was documented for every tumor seen by WD in the abdomen or right thoracic cavity. Spectrometry of lesions showed a 6.34-fold increased fluorescence intensity. Histology revealed hepatoblastoma in all specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Human hepatoblastoma can be detected by PDD in a rat model. Considering the clinical success of this method in other specialties, our findings indicate that further investigations to evaluate the benefit of PDD for children with hepatoblastoma should be performed.
Till
H
H
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. V. Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich, Lindwurmstrasse 4, 80337 München, Germany. Florian.Bergmann@med.uni-muenchen.de
Bergmann
F
F
Metzger
R
R
Haeberle
B
B
Schaeffer
K
K
von Schweinitz
D
D
Prosst
R L
RL
D000818:Animals; D005453:Fluorescence; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording