Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study
Abstract The accurate determination of the size and depth of infiltration is critical to the treatment and excision of melanoma and other skin cancers. However, current techniques, such as skin biopsy and histological examination, pose invasiveness, time-consumption, and have limitations in measurin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53220-y |
| _version_ | 1797274575047753728 |
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| author | Anatoly Fedorov Kukk Felix Scheling Rüdiger Panzer Steffen Emmert Bernhard Roth |
| author_facet | Anatoly Fedorov Kukk Felix Scheling Rüdiger Panzer Steffen Emmert Bernhard Roth |
| author_sort | Anatoly Fedorov Kukk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The accurate determination of the size and depth of infiltration is critical to the treatment and excision of melanoma and other skin cancers. However, current techniques, such as skin biopsy and histological examination, pose invasiveness, time-consumption, and have limitations in measuring at the deepest level. Non-invasive imaging techniques like dermoscopy and confocal microscopy also present limitations in accurately capturing contrast and depth information for various skin types and lesion locations. Thus, there is a pressing need for non-invasive devices capable of obtaining high-resolution 3D images of skin lesions. In this study, we introduce a novel device that combines 18 MHz ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography into a single unit, enabling the acquisition of colocalized 3D images of skin lesions. We performed in vivo measurements on 25 suspicious human skin nevi that were promptly excised following measurements. The combined ultrasound/photoacoustic tomography imaging technique exhibited a strong correlation with histological Breslow thickness between 0.2 and 3 mm, achieving a coefficient of determination (R $$^2$$ 2 ) of 0.93, which is superior to the coefficients from the individual modalities. The results procured in our study underscore the potential of combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography as a promising non-invasive 3D imaging approach for evaluating human nevi and other skin lesions. Furthermore, the system allows for integration of other optical modalities such as optical coherence tomography, microscopy, or Raman spectroscopy in future applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-569dd4266dd14c46ac2c74d39b474600 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:01:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-569dd4266dd14c46ac2c74d39b4746002024-03-05T19:08:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-011411910.1038/s41598-024-53220-yNon-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot studyAnatoly Fedorov Kukk0Felix Scheling1Rüdiger Panzer2Steffen Emmert3Bernhard Roth4Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies, Leibniz University of HannoverHannover Centre for Optical Technologies, Leibniz University of HannoverClinic and Policlinic for Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center RostockClinic and Policlinic for Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center RostockHannover Centre for Optical Technologies, Leibniz University of HannoverAbstract The accurate determination of the size and depth of infiltration is critical to the treatment and excision of melanoma and other skin cancers. However, current techniques, such as skin biopsy and histological examination, pose invasiveness, time-consumption, and have limitations in measuring at the deepest level. Non-invasive imaging techniques like dermoscopy and confocal microscopy also present limitations in accurately capturing contrast and depth information for various skin types and lesion locations. Thus, there is a pressing need for non-invasive devices capable of obtaining high-resolution 3D images of skin lesions. In this study, we introduce a novel device that combines 18 MHz ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography into a single unit, enabling the acquisition of colocalized 3D images of skin lesions. We performed in vivo measurements on 25 suspicious human skin nevi that were promptly excised following measurements. The combined ultrasound/photoacoustic tomography imaging technique exhibited a strong correlation with histological Breslow thickness between 0.2 and 3 mm, achieving a coefficient of determination (R $$^2$$ 2 ) of 0.93, which is superior to the coefficients from the individual modalities. The results procured in our study underscore the potential of combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography as a promising non-invasive 3D imaging approach for evaluating human nevi and other skin lesions. Furthermore, the system allows for integration of other optical modalities such as optical coherence tomography, microscopy, or Raman spectroscopy in future applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53220-y |
| spellingShingle | Anatoly Fedorov Kukk Felix Scheling Rüdiger Panzer Steffen Emmert Bernhard Roth Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study Scientific Reports |
| title | Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study |
| title_full | Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study |
| title_short | Non-invasive 3D imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography: a pilot study |
| title_sort | non invasive 3d imaging of human melanocytic lesions by combined ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography a pilot study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53220-y |
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