title: Photoacoustic imaging of human lymph nodes with endogenous lipid and hemoglobin contrast.
abstract: Lymph nodes play a central role in metastatic cancer spread and are a key clinical assessment target. Abnormal node vascularization, morphology, and size may be indicative of disease but can be difficult to visualize with sufficient accuracy using existing clinical imaging modalities. To explore the potential utility of photoacoustic imaging for the assessment of lymph nodes, images of ex vivo samples were obtained at multiple wavelengths using a high-resolution three-dimensional photoacoustic scanner. These images showed that hemoglobin based contrast reveals nodal vasculature and lipid-based contrast reveals the exterior node size, shape, and boundary integrity. These two sources of complementary contrast may allow indirect observation of cancer, suggesting a future role for photoacoustic imaging as a tool for the clinical assessment of lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guggenheim
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: University College London, Centre for Medical Imaging, 3rd Floor East, 250 Euston Road, London NW1 2PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plumb
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Edward Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: University College London, Cancer Institute, Department of Research Pathology, Rockefeller Building, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Justo
authors.affiliation: University College London, Centre for Medical Imaging, 3rd Floor East, 250 Euston Road, London NW1 2PG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Shonit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Punwani
authors.affiliation: University College London, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Beard
mesh_terms: D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D061088:Photoacoustic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D008055:Lipids