January 18, 2026

E13 - Glioma Margin Assessment

10 minutes

E13 | 11 min | Latest | Publication Link

Podcast based on: Tykocki, T.; Rakasz, Ł. Intraoperative Spectroscopic and Mass Spectrometric Assessment of Glioma Margins: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers 2026, 18, 263. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020263

Type: Systematic Review | Publication date: 14 January 2026

Summary: Maximal safe removal of gliomas is crucial for improving patient survival, yet surgeons often face difficulty distinguishing tumor tissue from normal brain tissue during surgery. Traditional frozen-section analysis is accurate but slow and disrupts operative workflow. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated three emerging, label-free intraoperative technologies—Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and optical coherence tomography—that provide real-time biochemical or structural information to guide tumor resection. By analyzing 24 human studies involving nearly 1800 patients, we found that these techniques achieve high diagnostic accuracy in identifying tumor tissue, infiltrated margins, and key molecular features such as IDH mutation status. Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry showed the strongest overall performance, outperforming optical coherence tomography. Importantly, these methods offer rapid, objective feedback without interrupting surgery, supporting more precise glioma resection. Our findings indicate that real-time spectroscopic and molecular diagnostics are ready for broader clinical integration and may enhance surgical decision-making in modern neuro-oncology.

Keywords: glioma; Raman spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; optical coherence tomography; intraoperative diagnostics; IDH mutation

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This podcast provides a synthetically generated voice summary and discussion of scientific publications. The views expressed do not represent the views of the original authors, journals, or publishers. This podcast uses AI-assisted summaries, so it may or may not introduce inaccuracies or omit important details. Listeners are strongly encouraged to consult the original publications or sources for full context and accuracy. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice, medical guidance, or recommendations. The creators of this podcast are not liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided.

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