Detection Of Breast Cancer Microcalcifications Using A Dual-modality Spectir Fluorescent Probe

摘要

Nuclear imaging is an established clinical molecular imaging modality that offers good sensitivity deep in tissue. However, nuclear imaging is limited by several factors such as time-consuming data acquisition, expensive equipment, exposure to radioactivity, the need for highly skilled personnel, and relatively poor spatial resolution. Optical imaging is a relatively new imaging modality that offers real-time, nonradioactive, and, depending on the technique, high-resolution imaging of fluorophores embedded in diseased tissues. Of the various optical imaging techniques investigated to date, near-infrared (NIR, 700-900 nm wavelength) fluorescence-based imaging is of particular interest for noninvasive in vivo imaging because of the relatively low tissue absorption, scatter, and minimal autofluorescence of NIR light.rnNIR fluorescence has the potential to provide rapid, inexpensive, and nonradioactive population-based screening for breast cancer. However, it is unclear whether currently available optical imaging systems have adequate sensitivity and/or resolution to identify breast pathology such as microcalcifications. In this study, we developed a critical reagent for exploring the limits of NIR fluorescence-based breast cancer diagnosis, namely, a simultaneous optical and nuclear contrast agent.