Open AccessLabel-free photoacoustic imaging guided sclerotherapy for vascular malformations: a feasibility study
Author(s) -
Jiawei Sun,
Quan Zhou,
Sihua Yang
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.004967
Subject(s) - sclerotherapy , photoacoustic imaging in biomedicine , in vivo , preclinical imaging , biomedical engineering , animal model , focus (optics) , blood vessel , medicine , pathology , radiology , materials science , nuclear medicine , optics , biology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology
We used high-resolution photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to guide sclerotherapy of vascular malformations in an in vivo animal model. A focus-adjustable PAI system was developed. It can adapt to the imaging needs of different depths by adjusting the focus. Blood samples drawn before and after sclerosis were examined with PAI, which could distinguish whether or not the blood had been exposed to a sclerosing agent. Superficial and deep vessels in the animal model were examined in vivo to prove the feasibility of guiding sclerotherapy. We found that PAI can distinguish sclerotic vessels from normal vessels within a certain depth range. Our findings suggest the potential of PAI to find accurate injection points and to localize thrombi, making it possible to reduce the dosage of sclerosing agents.