UCLA researchers from the Department of Head and Neck Surgery have developed a novel optical imaging method for surgical guidance.
BACKGROUND:
Biomedical imaging is an indispensable tool to guide in precise tumor removal in comprehensive cancer surgery. Imaging strategies like x-ray, ultrasound, and MRI are principally used to localize large tumors prior to operation. During an operation, the surgeon typically relies on white light reflectance, his or her tactile senses, and intermittent tissue biopsy to identify a tumor’s boundaries. Accuracy varies widely based on the experience of the surgeon, the pathologist, and the location and type of tumor. Standard technology during operation is lacking and underscores this pressing medical need.
INNOVATION:
In order to better identify the location of a tumor during surgery, UCLA researchers have created a novel method called dynamic optical contrast imaging (DOCI). DOCI uses a pulse of light to determine the characteristic auto-fluorescence wavelengths and lifetime of tissues. Cancer cells have different auto-fluorescence patterns than normal tissue because of changes in biochemistry, metabolism, and structure of the tissue. This technique works with complex samples, low signal-to-noise ratios, and even with blockages in the surgical field (blood, sweat, hair, etc.). DOCI is superior to other fluorescence lifetime imaging approaches because it has a simplified computational technique which allows near real time imaging and also produces a better signal to noise ratio. Additionally, DOCI can be used with low cost LEDs instead of expensive lasers because of its computational technique.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Determine tumor location during surgery
• Detect potential tumor
• Determine the stage of cancer
ADVANTAGES:
• Near real time imaging
• Significant contrast under low signal-to-noise
• Can use low-cost LEDs
• Works even with obscured surgical field-of-view
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE:
This technology has been tested on patients undergoing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or primary hyperthyroidism.
RELATED PAPERS:
I. A. Kim et al., “Dynamic Optical Contrast Imaging: A Technique to Differentiate Parathyroid Tissue from Surrounding Tissues,” Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, vol. 156, no. 3, pp. 480–483, 2017.
B. A. Tajudeen et al., “Dynamic optical contrast imaging as a novel modality for rapidly distinguishing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from surrounding normal tissue,” Cancer, 2016.
A. Papour et al., “Optical imaging for brain tissue characterization using relative fluorescence lifetime imaging.,” Journal of biomedical optics, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 60504, 2013.