Can a simple dye help surgeons see brain tumors in real time?
NCT ID NCT02691923
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether a fluorescent dye called fluorescein can help surgeons identify brain tumor tissue during an operation. About 30 adults with suspected glioma will receive the dye before surgery, and the surgeon will look for glowing areas through a special microscope. The dye's performance will be compared with standard MRI scans and tissue analysis to see if it can reliably mark tumor boundaries.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- fluorescein dye and 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) given before surgery to help visualize tumor tissue
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could give surgeons a real-time, dye-based tool to more precisely remove brain tumors during surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial focused on diagnostic accuracy, not treatment. The dye may not reliably distinguish tumor from healthy tissue in all cases.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Sally B Mansur
Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
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