ArticleSurgical endoscopy2022
Nerve autofluorescence in near-ultraviolet light markedly enhances nerve visualization in vivo.
Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Label-Free Facial Nerve Identification During Parotidectomy Using Nerve Autofluorescence: An Initial Clinical Series.Cureus · 2026Article
- Carbon Nanodot-enabled Fluorescent Nerve Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Repair: A Systematic Review of Translational Readiness.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Introducing autofluorescence technology for inguinal nerve visualization in open anterior hernia surgery: a step forward in surgical precision and safety.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2025Article
- Imaging Peripheral Nerves In Vivo with CT Neurogram Using Novel 2,4,6-Tri-Iodinated Lidocaine Contrast Agent.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Article
- Fluorescence-guided inguinal hernia repair with heightened nerve visualization to prevent chronic post-operative inguinal pain: Case report.International journal of surgery case reports · 2025Article
- Thyroid surgery under nerve auto-fluorescence & artificial intelligence tissue identification software guidance.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2025Review
- Article
- Case report: Fluorescence-guided laparotomic radical prostatectomy with heightened nerve visualization.International journal of surgery case reports · 2024Article
- Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging to Identify and Preserve the Fifth Anterior Intercostal Sensory Nerves during Inferior Pedicle Reduction Mammoplasty.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
- Fluorescence imaging to visualize the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy procedures: analysis of 65 cases and 81 nerves.Surgical endoscopy · 2024Article
- Nerve Detection and Visualization Using Hyperspectral Imaging for Surgical Guidance.Proceedings of SPIE--the International Society for Optical Engineering · 2024Article
- Indocyanine Green (ICG) and Colorectal Surgery: A Literature Review on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods of Usage.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Review
- Fluorescence Imaging to Identify and Preserve Fifth Intercostal Sensory Nerves during Bilateral Nipple-sparing Mastectomies.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Label-free intraoperative nerve detection and visualization using ratiometric diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Nerve autofluorescence under near-ultraviolet light: cutting-edge technology for intra-operative neural tissue visualization in 17 patients.Surgical endoscopy · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDuring surgery, surgeons must accurately localize nerves to avoid injuring them. Recently, we have discovered that nerves fluoresce in near-ultraviolet light (NUV) light. The aims of the current study were to determine the extent to which nerves fluoresce more brightly than background and vascular structures in NUV light, and identify the NUV intensity at which nerves are most distinguishable from other tissues.
methodsWe exposed sciatic nerves within the posterior thigh in five 250-300 gm Wistar rats, then observed them at four different NUV intensity levels: 20%, 35%, 50%, and 100%. Brightness of fluorescence was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy, quantified as a fluorescence score using Image-J software, and statistically compared between nerves, background, and both an artery and vein by unpaired Student's t tests with Bonferroni adjustment to accommodate multiple comparisons. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated for each NUV intensity.
resultsAt 20, 35, 50, and 100% NUV intensity, fluorescence scores for nerves versus background tissues were 117.4 versus 40.0, 225.8 versus 88.0, 250.6 versus 121.4, and 252.8 versus 169.4, respectively (all p < 0.001). Fluorescence scores plateaued at 50% NUV intensity for nerves, but continued to rise for background. At 35%, 50%, and 100% NUV intensity, a fluorescence score of 200 was 100% sensitive, specific, and accurate identifying nerves. At 100 NUV intensity, artery and vein scores were 61.8 and 60.0, both dramatically lower than for nerves (p < 0.001).
conclusionsAt all NUV intensities ≥ 35%, a fluorescence score of 200 is 100% accurate distinguishing nerves from other anatomical structures in vivo.
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