Abstract
The identification of cancer cells in the lymph nodes surrounding a tumor is important in establishing a prognosis. Optical detection techniques such as fluorescence and photoacoustic tomography (PAT) have been reported in preclinical studies for noninvasive sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping. A method for validation of these techniques is needed for clinical trials. We report the use of a multimodal optical-radionuclear contrast agent as a validation tool for PAT in a preclinical model. Methylene blue (MB) was radiolabeled with 125I for multimodal SLN mapping and used in conjunction with MB to assess the feasibility of multimodal SLN mapping in a rat model by PAT and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MB provided sufficient contrast for identifying SLNs noninvasively with a PAT system adapted from a clinical ultrasound imaging system. The signal location was corroborated by SPECT using 125I labeled MB. The translation of PAT into the clinic can be facilitated by a direct comparison with established imaging methods using a clinically relevant dual SPECT and photoacoustic imaging agent. The new high-resolution PAT is a promising technology for the sensitive and accurate SLN detection in cancer patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 175-181 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Translational Research |
Volume | 159 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- 3-D
- CT
- MB
- PAT
- PET
- SLN
- SPECT
- US
- computed tomography
- methylene blue
- photoacoustic tomography
- positron emission tomography
- sentinel lymph node
- single-photon emission computed tomography
- three-dimensional
- ultrasound