Basic Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2018. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2018; 24(31): 3531-3537
Published online Aug 21, 2018. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i31.3531
Stomach wall structure and vessels imaging by acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy
Cheng Wang, Yu-Fei Lu, Chun-Miao Cai, Hua-Zhong Xiang, Gang Zheng
Cheng Wang, Yu-Fei Lu, Hua-Zhong Xiang, Gang Zheng, Institute of Biomedical Optics and Optometry, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Chun-Miao Cai, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai 200093, China
Author contributions: Wang C designed and performed the research; Wang C and Lu YF wrote the paper; Cai CM harvested experimental samples and provided the pathology images; Wang C, Lu YF, Xiang HZ, and Gang Z performed the photoacoustic imaging experiment and processed the experiment data.
Supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, No. 61378060.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital. The design is reasonable and in line with the animal requirement. The ethics committee agreed to carry out a formal experiment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: To the best of our knowledge, no conflict of interest exists.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Cheng Wang, PhD, Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedical Optics and Optometry, School of Medical Instrument and Food Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, No. 516 Jungong Road, Shanghai 200093, China. c.wang@usst.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-21-55271165 Fax: +86-21-55271200
Received: April 12, 2018
Peer-review started: April 13, 2018
First decision: May 17, 2018
Revised: May 26, 2018
Accepted: June 27, 2018
Article in press: June 27, 2018
Published online: August 21, 2018
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

When checking submucosal tumors, traditional methods (such as standard optical stomach endoscopy, capsule optical endoscopy and push-and-pull enteroscopy together with barium contrast X-ray) can’t provide accurate information. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are often lower in resolution and contrast. Optimal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) imaging of stomach submucosal tumors (SMT) needs submersion of the tumor under water. However, benign SMTs, for example the submucosal inflammation, cannot be distinguished endosonographically. Therefore, it is still a challenge for EUS to detect early-phase tumor in situ. Our team aimed to demonstrate that photoacoustic imaging is able to image layered tissue and blood vessels under the surface of the tissue. In the future, we can design and develop a photoacoustic endoscopic imaging system to image deeper tissues with higher resolution for diagnosis and treatment.

Research motivation

To image layered tissue and blood vessels in layered tissue.

Research objectives

Our aim is to demonstrate that photoacoustic imaging can detect the structure of layered tissue and blood vessels beneath the surface of the tissue.

Research methods

Our team established the acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR-PAM) system for stomach wall structure imaging. Photoacoustic microimaging of the stomach wall structure was compared to an HE pathology image to verify the structure, vessels, and vessel direction.

Research results

As a result, we have established a fiber illumination based acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy method. The imaging ability has an axial resolution of 25 μm and a lateral resolution of 50 μm in its focal zone range of 500 μm. We have observed more detailed internal structure of the tissue from AR-PAM imaging. We also utilized this photoacoustic microscopy to image blood vessels inside the submucosa. By using ICG dye enhance a tumor model in the submucosa, the images obtained at a depth of 2400 μm depth had very high contrast.

Research conclusions

In this study, we have established a fiber illumination based acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy. Layer-by-layer imaging of the stomach tissue and blood vessels under stomach mucosa were obtained. By using ICG dye to enhance the tumor model, high contrast images at a depth of 2400 μm tissue were obtained. This proved that photoacoustic microscopy has the ability to image layered tissue and deep tissue targets with high resolution and high contrast. In the near future, this technique combined with endoscopy will supply a simple tool for physicians to see differences in layered tissues and imaging of tumor angiogenesis in submucosa.

Research perspectives

This technique combined with endoscopy will supply a simple tool to visualize layered tissues and tumor angiogenesis in submucosa. Scientific research should aim at solving practical problems in clinical practice. Innovative scientific research is demonstrated in the ability to effectively solve the difficult problems doctors encounter in clinical practice.