Abstract 4526: Safeguarding parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy using a real-time imaging agent

Abstract Parathyroid gland (PG) inadvertent damage or removal is a frequent complication of thyroidectomy, largely due to the difficulty of distinguishing PGs from surrounding thyroid gland (TG) during surgery. To address this challenge, we developed a novel imaging agent (IO-100) for real-time intraoperative PG visualization. Our study demonstrates that locally administered dark-colored IO-100 preferentially diffuse into TG while remaining excluded from tissue-dense PGs, creating a visually distinct contrast observable by surgeons. Through systematic in vivo optimization, intraoperative PG/TG contrast has been significantly enhanced, and PGs have been well identified and preserved. Importantly, local IO-100 administration was well-tolerated, showed no adverse toxicities exploiting the unique biodegradable property. These findings establish IO-100 as a promising safe and effective imaging agent for enhancing PG identification and minimizing damage/removal risk during thyroidectomy, providing a valuable tool for improving surgical outcomes. Citation Format: Jing Huang, Jialun Ding, Zhishan Guo, Kuan Liu. Safeguarding parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy using a real-time imaging agent [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4526.