Photoacoustic Tomography: Ultrasonically Breaking Through the Optical Diffusion Limit

Article

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), a new imaging technique that relies on light and sound, provides in vivo multiscale nonionizing functional and molecular imaging without the radiation emitted by x-rays and CT scans, explained Lihong V. Wang, PhD, who led the team of developers at Washington University in St. Louis.

A wealth of data presented in posters, symposia, panel discussions, and plenary sessions at the 2012 meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research truly reflected this year’s theme, “Accelerating Science: Concept to Clinic.” The following is the first of a series of summaries of some of these presentations.

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), a new imaging technique that relies on light and sound, provides in vivo multiscale nonionizing functional and molecular imaging without the radiation emitted by x-rays and CT scans, explained Lihong V. Wang, PhD, who led the team of developers at Washington University in St. Louis.

Lihong V. Wang, PhD

“PAT is the only modality capable of imaging across the length scales of organelles, cells, tissues, and organs with consistent contrast,” said Dr. Wang. The technique “has the potential to empower multiscale systems biology and accelerate translation from microscopic laboratory discoveries to macroscopic clinical practice.”

Dr. Wang said PAT may also hold the key to the earliest detection of cancer by in vivo label-free quantification of hypermetabolism, which he called “the quintessential hallmark of cancer.”

Dr. Wang is working with physicians at Washington University to evaluate PAT for use in identifying the sentinel lymph nodes for breast cancer staging (which may eliminate the need for surgical lymph node biopsies); monitoring early response to chemotherapy; imaging melanomas; and imaging the gastrointestinal tract.

“This technology is potentially a game changer, both in how we monitor cancer and in how soon we know it is there,” said Dr. Wang.

Related Videos
Pegulicianine-guided breast cancer surgery may allow practices to de-escalate subsequent radiotherapy, says Barbara Smith, MD, PhD.
Adrienne Bruce Shannon, MD, discussed ways to improve treatment and surgical outcomes for patients with dMMR gastroesophageal cancer.
Barbara Smith, MD, PhD, spoke about the potential use of pegulicianine-guided breast cancer surgery based on reports from the phase 3 INSITE trial.
Patient-reported symptoms following surgery appear to improve with the use of perioperative telemonitoring, says Kelly M. Mahuron, MD.
Treatment options in the refractory setting must improve for patients with resected colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis, says Muhammad Talha Waheed, MD.
Although immature, overall survival data from the KEYNOTE-868 trial may support the use of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with endometrial cancer.
Dostarlimab plus chemotherapy appears to yield favorable overall survival in patients with mismatch repair proficient endometrial cancer.
Some patients with large B-cell lymphoma may have to travel a great distance for an initial evaluation for CAR T-cell therapy.
Brian Slomovitz, MD, MS, FACOG discusses the use of new antibody drug conjugates for treating patients with various gynecologic cancers.
Education is essential to referring oncologists manage toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy for patients with large B-cell lymphoma.
Related Content