Researchers develop dye to identify brain tumors






Researchers at Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have developed new technology that will help doctors tell tumors from brain matter during surgery.

Ravi Bellamkonda at Georgia Tech and Dr. Barun Brahma, a neurosurgeon, talked about finding a simple way to distinguish tumor material from brain matter that would not require expensive imaging technology, which is not available in all hospitals or in many parts of the world.

Bellamkonda's laboratory developed an injectible material made out of fat that carries a blue dye. The dye selectively stains the margins of tumors blue, so a doctor can see them clearly.

It should help doctors remove tumors more accurately.