Real-time in vivo kinetics of protoporphyrin IX after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acid in meningiomas and comparative analyses with glioblastomas

Background The usefulness of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)–mediated fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in meningiomas is intensely discussed. However, data about kinetics of 5-ALA and protoporphyrin (Pp) IX in meningiomas are lacking. Methods As the first study so far, we performed longitudinal intraoperative real-time ex situ measurements of fluorescence intensity and PpIX concentrations during FGS of ten benign and two atypical meningiomas. Kinetics were subsequently compared with data from 229 glioblastomas. Results Spectroscopy revealed fluorescence (median 2945.65 a.u.) and PpIX accumulation (median 18.31 μg/ml) in all 43 analyzed samples. Fluorescence intensity (2961.50 a.u. vs 118.41 a.u.; p < .001) and PpIX concentrations (18.72 μg/ml vs .98 μg/ml; p < .001) were higher in samples with ( N = 30) than without ( N = 2) visible intraoperative tumor fluorescence. ROC curve analyses revealed a PpIX cut-off concentration of 3.85 μg/ml (AUC = .992, p = .005) and a quantitative fluorescence cut-off intensity of 286.73 a.u. (AUC = .983, p = .006) for intraoperative visible tumor fluorescence. Neither fluorescence intensity ( p = .356) nor PpIX ( p = .631) differed between atypical and benign meningiomas. Fluorescence and PpIX peaked 7–8 h following administration of 5-ALA. Meningiomas displayed a higher fluorescence intensity ( p = .012) and PpIX concentration ( p = .005) than glioblastomas 5–6 h after administration of 5-ALA. Although fluorescence was basically maintained, PpIX appeared to be cleared faster in meningiomas than in glioblastomas. Conclusions Kinetics of PpIX and fluorescence intensity differ between meningiomas and glioblastomas in the early phase after 5-ALA administration. Modification of the timing of drug administration might impact visibility of intraoperative fluorescence and helpfulness of FGS and should be investigated in future analyses.