PRECISION SURGERY WITH VELSCOPE Vx:
Revolutionary Fluorescence-Guided Surgery for Oral Cancer VELscope Vx represents a paradigm shift in oral cancer surgery, utilizing tissue fluorescence visualization (TFV) to identify malignant tissue invisible to the naked eye. This breakthrough technology enables surgeons to achieve unprecedented precision in tumor removal, dramatically reducing recurrence rates and improving patient outcomes.
The Challenge: Limitations of Conventional Surgery
Traditional White Light Surgery Falls Short
Conventional oral cancer surgery relies on visual assessment under white light, which presents significant limitations:
Inadequate Visualization: Tumor boundaries are often unclear under standard lighting
Incomplete removal: Microscopic cancer cells may remain at surgical sites
Guesswork margins: Surgeons must estimate safe surgical margins without precise guidance
High recurrence rates: Up to 40% of patients experience cancer recurrence after conventional surgery
The Cost of Imprecision
When surgical margins are inadequate, the consequences are severe:
Cancer recurrence: Remaining malignant cells lead to tumor regrowth
Additional surgeries: Patients require repeat procedures with increased complexity
Reduced survival rates: Recurrent cancer is typically more aggressive and harder to treat
Escalated costs: Second surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation multiply treatment expenses
VELscope Vx: The Solution for Precision Surgery
VELscope Vx utilizes a specific wavelength of blue light to reveal tissue abnormalities:
Blue light excitation: The device emits 400 – 460nm wavelength light
Cancer detection: Abnormal tissue shows loss of fluorescence and appears dark
Normal tissue response: Healthy tissue fluoresces and appears as an apple-green glow
Real-time guidance: Surgeons can visualize the exact extent of cancerous tissue during surgery
The Science Behind Fluorescence Loss
Normal Tissue Fluorescence:
Healthy epithelium contains fluorophores that emit green light
Intact collagen matrix in the stroma maintains fluorescence
Blood vessels and normal architecture support fluorescence
Cancer-Associated Changes:
Epithelial dysplasia disrupts normal fluorophore distribution
Collagen matrix breakdown reduces fluorescence intensity
Increased blood vessel density and altered tissue architecture cause fluorescence loss
Clinical Evidence: Dramatic Improvement in Outcomes Proven Recurrence Reduction
Clinical studies demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of VELscope-guided surgery:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Study:
92 patients with SCC: 3-year local recurrence rate reduced from 40.6% to 6.5%
Over 80% reduction: Fluorescence guidance dramatically improved outcomes
High-Grade Lesions Study:
62 patients with severe dysplasia: Recurrence rate decreased from 39.3% to 8.1%
Consistent results: Benefits observed across different lesion types
Long-Term Follow-Up Results
Non-Fluorescence Guided Surgery:
25% of patients experienced severe dysplasia or worse at
treated sites after 12 months
Higher rates of positive margins requiring additional treatment
VELscope-Guided Surgery:
0% of patients had severe dysplasia at treated sites
Complete removal achieved in significantly more cases
Benefits of VELscope-Guided Surgery
Immediate Surgical Benefits
Precise tumor delineation: Clear visualization of cancer boundaries
Complete removal: Ensures no malignant tissue remains
Reduced operative time: Real-time guidance streamlines procedures
Improved margins: Higher rates of clear surgical margins
Long-Term Patient Benefits
Dramatically reduced recurrence: Over 90% reduction in local recurrence rates
Enhanced survival: Complete tumor removal improves long-term prognosis
Fewer repeat surgeries: Reduced need for additional procedures
Better quality of life: Successful single surgery minimizes patient trauma
Healthcare System Benefits
Cost reduction: Preventing recurrence saves substantial healthcare resources
Improved efficiency: Precise surgery reduces complications and readmissions
Enhanced outcomes: Superior results improve institutional reputation
Resource optimization: Better allocation of surgical and treatment resources
PRECISION SURGERY WITH VELSCOPE Vx: REDUCING ORAL CANCER RECURRENCE BY UP TO 90%
Initial assessment of an ill-defined SCC on the right ventrolateral tongue under white light.
Clinically apparent tumor outlined in blue.
Assessment of field using FV in the dark.
FVL area outlined in green, with the boundary of the surgical specimen marked in red.
What experts have to say:
“We see recurrence rate decrease significantly in both, invasive cancers and cases of severe dysplasia, when surgical margins are determined using Tissue Fluores-cence Visualization.”
Dr. Calum MacAulay PhD Clinical Associate Professor, UBC
Head of Integrative Oncology Distinguished Scientist Serves as Head, Cancer Imaging Department, B.C. Cancer Research Centre, BCAA
“With FV technology we found that the extension of this disease is not uniform around the cancerous area, so a 10-mm margin around the tumor site may not always work. With the use of FV technology, we hope to accurately remove all cancerous tissue.”
Prof. Dr. Catherine F. Poh, DDS, PhD, FRCD (C), Clinician Scientist, Oral Pathologist and Consulting Dentist, BC, Canada.
“VELscope allows us to add new dimension to detect abnormalities which may be histologic or perhaps only genetic and use those in real time way to evaluate surgical margins”
Prof. J. Scott Durham, BSc MD FRCSC Head, VGH Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery