Application of a Photoacoustic Sensor for Colon Cancer Imaging: A Case Report

The incidence of colorectal cancer is on the rise on a global scale. Besides research into novel treatment schemes, accurate monitoring techniques are necessary to help in the process, especially for the post-treatment period. Recently, photoacoustic (PA) imaging has been investigated as a tool for detecting and monitoring colon cancer, with a potential of distinguishing various tissue types. In this initial study, we report using an LED-based PA sensor on a colon cancer specimen, ex-vivo. Our initial data with an LED of a wavelength equal to 850 nm shows that the PA signal is weaker in the malignant region when compared to healthy colon tissue or fat, while stronger than the signal in water (noise level). These results pave the way for larger studies, including data from more patients and various types of tumors.