title: Nonionizing photoacoustic cystography in vivo.
abstract: We demonstrate the feasibility of a novel and nonionizing process for bladder imaging in vivo, called photoacoustic cystography (PAC). Using a photoacoustic imaging system, we have successfully imaged a rat bladder filled with clinically used Methylene Blue (MB) dye. An image contrast of ~8 was achieved. Further, spectroscopic PAC confirmed the accumulation of MB in the bladder. Using a laser pulse energy of less than 1 mJ/cm² (1/20 of the ANSI safety limit), a deeply (1.2 cm) positioned bladder in biological tissues was clearly visible in the PA image. Our results suggest that PAC can potentially provide a nonionizing, relatively cheap, and portable tool for bladder mapping. Among our clinical interests, nonionizing PAC with an injection of MB can potentially monitor vesicoureteral reflux in children.
authors.affiliation: BioOptics and Acoustics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA. chulhong@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Chulhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mansik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Lihong V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008751:Methylene Blue; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D008751:Methylene Blue