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Skin diseases are a significant health concern, necessitating early and accurate diagnosis for improved patient outcomes. Non-invasive techniques have been explored to reduce patient discomfort and complications, since they eliminate the need for surgical interventions and tissue sampling. One of those modalities is ultrasound imaging which allows the visualization of skin structures, like the layers, providing crucial anatomical information without an intervention. Photoacoustic imaging, another non-invasive modality, utilizes light to produce ultrasound waves within the tissue, collecting functional information based on absorption properties, like vasculature distribution. In this study, we present a high frequency linear array tumor margin assessment system designed for skin imaging, utilizing a 44 MHz central frequency transducer with a bandwidth between 32 and 56 MHz, and a tunable laser with a repetition rate of 10 Hz and range from 690 to 950 nm. The system was characterized in both photoacoustic and ultrasound modes using wire phantoms. Using a 3D stage, the photoacoustic/ultrasound probe scanned the area of interest to obtain volumetric images in both modalities and get a better visualization of the tissue. In addition, the tunable laser's capability for multispectral analysis can be used for the improvement of the system, complementing anatomical information, and facilitating comprehensive assessment of skin abnormalities, particularly in tumor margin evaluation. The developed system holds great promise in enhancing tumor margin assessment, providing a powerful and non-invasive tool for skin imaging with the potential for broad clinical applications.
Benavides et al. (Mon,) studied this question.