11
Jan
2022
BBC Two Documentary, Surgeons: At the Edge of Life
BBC Two documentary Surgeons: At the Edge of Life, Series 4, Episode 4 (Aired on 2nd December 2021) showed brain surgery taking place using 5-ALA (Gliolan®) at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.
The episode showed neurosurgeon Alexis Joannides operate on 30 year old patient, Adam who was diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma after suffering severe headaches and being referred to A&E by his optician.
Adam was given 5-ALA (Gliolan®) prior to his operation which causes the tumour to fluoresce bright pink under UV light. This enabled Mr Joannides to make a distinction between malignant and normal tissue, resulting in improved quality of life for Adam. The episode is available to watch on BBC iPlayer