Toward in vivo biopsy of melanoma based on photoacoustic and ultrasound dual imaging with an integrated detector

Abstract

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer with high lethal rate. Tumor thickness and tumor-associated vasculature are two key parameters for staging melanoma. Previous techniques for diagnosing melanoma have insurmountable restrictions, such as invasive, low specificity, or inaccurate depth measurement. Here we develop an integrated photoacoustic (PA) and ultrasound (US) imaging system dedicated to overcome these limitations. An integrated detector with sound-light coaxial/confocal design and flexible coupling mode is employed for the combined PA/US imaging strategy. PA imaging results enable a clear characterization of tumor angiogenesis with high resolution and high contrast. Furthermore, accurate thickness measurements of melanoma in different stages can be resolved with the simultaneously obtained PA/US image. Phantom experiments and in vivo animal experimental results demonstrate the integrated PA/US system could provide potential for noninvasive biopsy of melanoma.

Quantitative investigation of vascular response to mesenteric venous thrombosis using large‐field‐of‐view photoacoustic microscopy

“…Optical resolution photoacoustic microscopy (ORPAM), a hybrid optical imaging modality integrating high spatial resolution, rich contrast of hemoglobin and deep acoustic penetration depth, has been successfully applied in biology and medicine . However, limited by the conventional raster scanning mechanism, existing ORPAMs suffers from relative translation between imaging interface and the sample as well as subcentimeter FOV .…”

Photoacoustic molecular imaging with functional nanoparticles

“…35 In addition, some multimodality imaging methods are also widely used, such as PA/US imaging system; an integrated detector with sound-light coaxial/confocal design and°exible coupling mode is employed for the combined PA/US imaging strategy. [36][37][38] This method is able to simultaneously detect the absorption of chromophores such as hemoglobin and melanin and the di®erences in acoustic impedance.…”

Photoacoustic viscoelasticity imaging dedicated to mechanical characterization of biological tissues

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] It overcomes the resolution disadvantages of pure optical imaging and the contrast disadvantages of pure ultrasound imaging, bene¯ting from the capacity of high-resolution sensing optical contrast at depths beyond the optical transport mean-free-paths. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] PA imaging is based on the PA e®ect. 34 When irradiated by pulsed laser, tissue absorbs the optical energy and converts it into ultrasound due to thermal expansion, which then can be detected by transducers.…”