Using Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) to quantify physiological changes of patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer treatment

摘要

Radiotherapy is a common and effective treatment for certain breast cancers. One potential drawback fromthis therapy is the development of varying degrees of erythema that typically occur after the treatment has beencompleted. Currently there are no tools to quantify radiation-induced skin changes during and after radiation and thestandardized scoring systems remain subjective. Developing these tools would not only allow clinicians to objectivelyassess patients, but could potentially inform them as to which patients are likely to develop more severe side effects.Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) is a non-invasive, non-contact imaging technique capable of quantitativelymapping tissue absorption and scattering properties that can be converted into tissue oxygen saturation, totalhemoglobin concentration and reduced scattering coefficients. Here we present a study of 13 breast cancer patientsthat have been prescribed radiation therapy and imaged using SFDI before, during, and after radiation treatment overthe course of several weeks. A preliminary analysis of the data shows increases in total hemoglobin concentration ashigh as 75% in the treated breast tissue compared to highs of 10% in control regions at the end of the radiationtreatments. Additionally, changes in the reduced scattering coefficient as high as 25% in the treated breast tissue canbe seen a week before the treatment is complete and hyperpigmentation is visible. The aim of this study is tocharacterize radiation induced changes in skin using SFDI in order to provide clinicians with a technology that caninform radiation protocols (such as dose, frequency and duration) thereby minimizing unnecessary skin toxicity whilemaximizing treatment efficacy.