Multispectral molecular imaging of capillary endothelium to facilitate preoperative endovascular brain mapping.

Brain mapping aims to localize neurological function to specific regions of the human brain. Preoperative endovascular brain mapping (PEBM) is a novel approach that allows clear visualization of nonfunctional (silent) brain parenchyma in real time during a resection. It has potential to improve neurosurgical guidance because brain shift does not alter the maps, and the map is visualized directly on the brain in situ rather than on a nearby image. Therefore, the risk of a new neurological deficit should be reduced. The authors report the first PEBM approach that combines selective molecular targeting of brain endothelium with multispectral (optical) imaging in preclinical animal models.