Coregistered three-dimensional ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system for ovarian tissue characterization

• Published in: Journal of Biomedical Optics 2009-09, Vol.14 (5), p.054014-054019
• Main Authors: Aguirre, Andres, Guo, Puyun, Gamelin, John, Yan, Shikui, Sanders, Mary M, Brewer, Molly, Zhu, Quing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Animals; Arrays; Cancer; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - instrumentation; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - methods; Elevation; Female; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging; Imaging techniques; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; medical imaging; Mortality; ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; ovary; Ovary - diagnostic imaging; Pattern Recognition, Automated - methods; Phantoms, Imaging; photoacoustic; Reproducibility of Results; Research Papers; Sensitivity and Specificity; Subtraction Technique; Swine; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 1083-3668; 1560-2281
• DOI: 10.1117/1.3233916

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all gynecologic cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 30 or less. Current imaging techniques are limited in sensitivity and specificity in detecting early stage ovarian cancer prior to its widespread metastasis. New imaging techniques that can provide functional and molecular contrasts are needed to reduce the high mortality of this disease. One such promising technique is photoacoustic imaging. We develop a 1280-element coregistered 3-D ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system based on a 1.75-D acoustic array. Volumetric images over a scan range of 80 deg in azimuth and 20 deg in elevation can be achieved in minutes. The system has been used to image normal porcine ovarian tissue. This is an important step toward better understanding of ovarian cancer optical properties obtained with photoacoustic techniques. To the best of our knowledge, such data are not available in the literature. We present characterization measurements of the system and compare coregistered ultrasound and photoacoustic images of ovarian tissue to histological images. The results show excellent coregistration of ultrasound and photoacoustic images. Strong optical absorption from vasculature, especially highly vascularized corpora lutea and low absorption from follicles, is demonstrated.