Noninvasive Determination of Melanoma Depth using a Handheld Photoacoustic Probe

Abstract

In this work, we propose applying photoacoustic tomography (PAT) to address this problem. Compared with traditional optical imaging methods, PAT uses ultrasonic waves, which give approximately 1,000 times less scattering than optical waves, breaking through the optical diffusion limit (∼1 mm in the skin) for penetration (Wang and Hu, 2012; Wang and Gao, 2014). In addition, by using optical excitation of acoustic waves due to light absorption, PAT provides improved contrast of melanin, which is deficient in ultrasonographic imaging. In previous mouse models, we measured a melanoma greater than 7 mm in depth (Zhou et al., 2015). Here we extend our work to patients with melanoma, with the aim of determining the accuracy of PAT-measured melanoma depth compared with the actual BD based on excisional biopsy results. In addition, we also compare our PAT measurement with the histologic measurement obtained from partial incisional biopsy to ultimately determine the predictability and application of PAT measurements in a clinical setting.

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