Background: During ablative head and neck cancer procedures, a surgeon's assessment of tumor extent is dependent on subtle tissue changes and palpation. Accurate assessment of tumor extent by fluorescent optical imaging has the potential to provide surgeons real-time, intraoperative information about the local extent of tumor and the presence of residual disease.
Design: Orthotopically inoculated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells UM-SCC-1 (n = 6), CAL 27 (n = 6), or saline-injected controls were monitored for 14 days and then underwent mock surgical resections. Antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody (cetuximab) was labeled with a near-infrared fluorochrome, Cy5.5. The cetuximab-Cy5.5 conjugate was systemically administered by tail vein injection 3 days prior to the resection. Near-infrared fluorescent monitoring was performed before resection and after partial and complete surgical excision of the tumors. After resection, the mandible and attached soft tissues were resected, paraffin embedded, and serial sectioned.