In vivo photoacoustic microscopy of human cutaneous microvasculature and a nevus

摘要

Abstract. In several human volunteers, photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) has been utilized for noninvasivencutaneous imaging of the skin microvasculature and a melanocytic nevus. Microvascular networks in both acralnand nonacral skin were imaged, and multiple features within the skin have been identified, including the stratumncorneum, epidermal-dermal junction, and subpapillary vascular plexus. Several vascular and structural differencesnbetween acral and nonacral skin were also observed in the photoacoustic images. In addition, a nevus wasnphotoacoustically imaged, excised, and histologically analyzed. The photoacoustic images allowed for in vivonmeasurement of tumor thickness, depth, and microvasculature-values confirmed by histologic examination. Thenpresented images demonstrate the potential of PAMto aid in the study and evaluation of cutaneousmicrocirculationnand analysis of pigmented lesions. Through its ability to three-dimensionally image the structure and functionnof the microvasculature and pigmented lesions, PAM can have a clinical impact in diagnosis and assessmentnof systemic diseases that affect the microvasculature such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, cutaneousnmalignancies such as melanoma, and potentially other skin disorders. C u00022011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers