King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has introduced 5-Aminolevulinic Acid, a medical technology that aims to increase the precision of brain tumour removal surgeries.

This approach involves the pre-surgical administration of a special substance that causes tumour cells to glow under a specific light, thereby aiding surgeons in differentiating between healthy and cancerous tissues.

The use of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid has been shown to enhance the complete removal of tumours by up to 30%, stated KFSHRC.

This method not only improves patient recovery rates but also minimises the risk of residual cancer cells that remain in the brain after surgical removal of a tumour.

KFSHRC claims to be the first hospital in Saudi Arabia to incorporate this technology into its routine surgical practice.

The hospital stated that the adoption of this technology is beneficial for patients with high-grade gliomas, a form of brain tumour that is difficult to distinguish from surrounding healthy tissue.

Furthermore, the improved visibility during surgery reduces the complexity and risk associated with the removal of these tumours.

KFSHRC stated that it is partnering with other hospitals within Saudi Arabia and around the world to share knowledge and encourage the broader use of this technique.

This announcement comes after the hospital launched precision medicine services within its Family Medicine Clinics last month, aimed at personalising healthcare through treatments that are tailored to each patient's genetic makeup and lifestyle.

Last November, KFSHRC's Madinah branch introduced a virtual pathology service that utilises advanced digital technology for high-resolution analysis, thereby improving the accuracy of diagnosing cancer, inflammatory conditions, and microbiological infections in tissue samples.