Hyperspectral Fluorescence Imaging for Mouse Skin Tumor Detection

Abstract

This paper presents a hyperspectral imaging technique based on laser‐induced fluorescence for non‐invasive detection of tumorous tissue on mouse skin. Hyperspectral imaging sensors collect image data in a number of narrow, adjacent spectral bands. Such high‐resolution measurement of spectral information reveals contiguous emission spectra at each image pixel useful for the characterization of constituent materials. The hyperspectral image data used in this study are fluorescence images of mouse skin consisting of 21 spectral bands in the visible spectrum of the wavelengths ranging from 440 nm to 640 nm. Fluorescence signal is measured with the use of laser excitation at 337 nm. An acousto‐optic tunable filter (AOTF) is used to capture images at 10 nm intervals. All spectral band images are spatially registered with the reference band image at 490 nm to obtain exact pixel correspondences by compensating the spatial offsets caused by the refraction differences in AOTF at different wavelengths during the image capture procedure. The unique fluorescence spectral signatures demonstrate a good separation to differentiate malignant tumors from normal tissues for rapid detection of skin cancers without biopsy.

Laser-induced fluorescence made simple: implications for the diagnosis and follow-up monitoring of basal cell carcinoma

“…In the spectral region of 500 to 600 nm, the reduction of the fluorescence is attributed to hemoglobin absorption. [28][29][30][31][32] Similar autofluorescence patterns have been shown for both superficial and nodular BCCs. 28 The feasibility of autofluorescence spectroscopy for skin cancer detection using excitation at 375 nm has been investigated.…”

Novel Optical Techniques for Imaging Microcirculation in the Diabetic Foot

“…They compared the results of HSI with histologic measurements and found that both methods showed great similarities in their diagnostic power [61]. Other examples for the usefulness of HSI in cancer diagnostics are shown in the field of breast cancer [62], prostate cancer [63] and skin cancer [64], regarding the clinical applicability of HSI. However, these studies were conducted among animals (rats or mice) and results may therefore not necessarily translate to clinical practice.…”

Detection of cancer metastasis using a novel macroscopic hyperspectral method

“…Laboratory results for the determination of histopathology of a suspected tumor may generally take several days [1]. Hyperspectral image data provide a powerful tool for non-invasive tissue analyses.…”

“…Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) can extend the human vision to near-infrared and infrared wavelength regions. HSI has already been applied in the medical field [1, 3–14]. HSI is applied to provide quantitative data about the tissue oxygen saturation in patients with peripheral vascular disease, to detect ischemic regions of the intestine during surgery, to predict and follow healing in foot ulcers of diabetic patients, and to diagnose hemorrhagic shock [15].…”