The ‘fingerprint’ of cancer extends beyond solid tumor boundaries: assessment with a novel ultrasound imaging approach

摘要

GoalAbnormalities of microvascular morphology have been associated with tumor angiogenesis for more than a decade, and are believed to be intimately related to both tumor malignancy and response to treatment. However, the study of these vascular changes in-vivo has been challenged due to the lack of imaging approaches which can assess the microvasculature in 3-D volumes non-invasively. Here, we use contrast-enhanced “acoustic angiography” ultrasound imaging to observe and quantify heterogeneity in vascular morphology around solid tumors.