Detecting melanoma with a terahertz spectroscopy imaging technique

Dandan Li; Zhongbo Yang; Ailing Fu; Tunan Chen; Ligang Chen; Mingjie Tang; Hua Zhang; Ning Mu; Shi Wang; Guizhao Liang; Huabin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2020.118229

Detecting melanoma with a terahertz spectroscopy imaging technique

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2020 Jun 15:234:118229. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118229. Epub 2020 Mar 5.

Authors

Dandan Li¹, Zhongbo Yang², Ailing Fu³, Tunan Chen⁴, Ligang Chen⁵, Mingjie Tang², Hua Zhang², Ning Mu⁴, Shi Wang⁴, Guizhao Liang⁶, Huabin Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology & Research Center of Applied Physics, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China.
² Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology & Research Center of Applied Physics, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China.
³ School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
⁵ Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology & Research Center of Applied Physics, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. Electronic address: gzliang@cqu.edu.cn.
⁷ Chongqing Engineering Research Center of High-Resolution and Three-Dimensional Dynamic Imaging Technology & Research Center of Applied Physics, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China. Electronic address: wanghuabin@cigit.ac.cn.

PMID: 32193158
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118229

Abstract

Transmission mode terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system was employed to image BALB/c mouse skin tissue slices containing melanoma. The melanoma was unambiguously identified in the frequency region of 0.6-1.8 THz because melanoma has a higher refractive index as well as a higher absorption coefficient than the normal region of the skin tissue. Based on the results of hematoxylin-eosin staining and mass weighing, it was further suggested that the higher density of nucleic acids, higher water content, and lower fat content in the melanoma compared to the normal region are major factors responsible for melanoma's higher refractive index and absorption coefficient than normal tissue. The present work validates that terahertz time-domain spectroscopy imaging technique is possible to be used for the diagnosis of melanoma.

Keywords: Histology; Melanoma; Optical visual imaging; Terahertz imaging; Tissue diseases.

MeSH terms

Animals
Melanoma, Experimental / diagnosis*
Melanoma, Experimental / diagnostic imaging*
Mice
Optical Imaging*
Refractometry
Skin / diagnostic imaging
Skin / pathology
Terahertz Spectroscopy*
Water

Substances

Water