Journal: Science advances
This study presents a high-speed dual-modal imaging system (HDMI) that combines large-view photoacoustic and ultrasonic computed tomography. It simultaneously captures anatomical and blood-related details of the human breast in about 12 seconds.
In a clinical trial involving 170 patients and 186 breast tumors, the system demonstrated a significant improvement in diagnostic specificity, increasing from 22.5% to 75% compared to standard clinical ultrasonography, using pathology as the reference.
Key features of HDMI include:
- Deep tissue penetration (up to 5 cm)
- Rapid imaging with a 10 Hz frame rate
- Enhanced diagnostic accuracy without ionizing radiation or contrast agents
- Pain-free and non-invasive procedure
- Reduced operator dependence
These advantages indicate strong potential for early breast tumor detection.