A new algorithm for the continuous quantitative monitoring of leakage during chemotherapeutic limb perfusion

During isolated limb perfusion operations very high concentration of chemotherapeutic agents are used. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the leakage of the chemotherapeutics into the system circulation is required. This monitoring is often based on the radioactivity dynamics of a single injected radiotracer. A disadvantage of such a technique is that it is susceptible to detector movement during surgery. Here, we present a new monitoring technique, insensitive for detector movement, by using the count rate ratio of two different radiotracers. It is shown from both simulations and measurements that our method is capable of the continuous monitoring of leakage, unsusceptible to detector movement, without significantly decreasing the accuracy or stability of the measurement.