An Intraoperative $\beta^-$ Detecting Probe For Radio-Guided Surgery in Tumour Resection

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and laboratory testing of a novel intraoperative $eta^-$ detecting probe for radio-guided tumor surgery, aiming to improve resection accuracy especially in brain tumors by reducing background noise.

Contribution

It introduces a new intraoperative $eta^-$ probe with detailed design and testing protocols, advancing radio-guided surgery techniques for tumor resection.

Findings

Prototype developed and tested in laboratory conditions.

Specialized phantoms and protocols for surgical field simulation.

Potential for improved tumor detection with low background noise.

Abstract

The development of the $\beta^-$ based radio-guided surgery aims to extend the technique to those tumours where surgery is the only possible treatment and the assessment of the resection would most profit from the low background around the lesion, as for brain tumours. Feasibility studies on meningioma, glioma, and neuroendocrine tumors already estimated the potentiality of this new treatment. To validate the technique, prototypes of the intraoperative probe required by the technique to detect $\beta^-$ radiation have been developed. This paper discusses the design details of the device and the tests performed in laboratory. In such tests particular care has to be taken to reproduce the surgical field conditions. The innovative technique to produce specific phantoms and the dedicated testing protocols is described in detail.