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The use of 5-aminolevulinic acid in resection of pediatric brain tumors: a critical review

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Abstract

The compound, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is approved for fluorescence-guided resections of malignant gliomas in Europe and other countries for use in adults, but not for children. The application of 5-ALA in children remains an off-label use. Several case reports on fluorescence-guided surgery use in children have been published, yet no prospective study has been conducted. Here we systematically review the reported studies and discuss the usefulness, application, and safety of 5-ALA use in resection of pediatric brain tumors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Andrew J. Gienapp (Neuroscience Institute, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN) for copy editing and preparation of the manuscript and table for publishing.

Funding

This work was generously supported by the National Natural Sciences Fund Project of China (NSFC Nos. 81500601 and 81600337), Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Project(20154Y0036) and Hospital Funded Clinical Research-Clinical Research Unit-Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (17CSY02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 1665 Kongjiang RD, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Chenran Zhang

  2. Clinical Research Unit, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Chenran Zhang

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Chenran Zhang & Frederick A. Boop

  4. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Chenran Zhang & Frederick A. Boop

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

  6. Semmes-Murphey Brain and Spine Institute, Memphis, TN, USA

    Frederick A. Boop

  7. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Advocate Children’s Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA

    John Ruge

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  1. Chenran Zhang
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  2. Frederick A. Boop
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Correspondence to Chenran Zhang.

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Zhang, C., Boop, F.A. & Ruge, J. The use of 5-aminolevulinic acid in resection of pediatric brain tumors: a critical review. J Neurooncol 141, 567–573 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-03004-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-018-03004-y

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