The state of the art in breast imaging using the Twente Photoacoustic Mammoscope: results from 31 measurements on malignancies.

Objectives: Photoacoustic mammography is potentially an ideal technique, however, the amount of patient data is limited. To further our understanding of the in vivo performance of the method and to guide further research and development, we imaged 33 breast malignancies using the research system - the Twente Photoacoustic Mammoscope (PAM).

Methods: Thirty-one patients participated in this retrospective, observational study.

Clinical photoacoustic breast imaging: the Twente experience.

Globally, breast cancer is the most frequently occurring malignancy in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths, with up to half a million women dying of the disease in 2008. Early detection and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer is crucial for optimizing survival chances, with imaging technologies playing a major role. X-ray mammography (XRM) and ultrasound (US) imaging, however, suffer from nonoptimal sensitivity and specificity.

Appearance of breast cysts in planar geometry photoacoustic mammography using 1064-nm excitation.

In the search for improved imaging modalities for detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, a high negative prediction value is also important. Photoacoustic (optoacoustic) imaging is a relatively new technique that has high potential for visualizing breast malignancies, but little is known about the photoacoustic appearance of benign lesions. In this work, we investigate the visibility of benign breast cysts in forward-mode photoacoustic mammography using 1064-nm light, as currently applied in the Twente photoacoustic mammoscope.

Monte Carlo simulations shed light on Bathsheba's suspect breast.

In 1654, Rembrandt van Rijn painted his famous painting Bathsheba at her Bath. Over the years, the depiction of Bathsheba's left breast and especially the presence of local discoloration, has generated debate on whether Rembrandt's Bathsheba suffered from breast cancer. Historical, medical and artistic arguments appeared to be not sufficient to prove if Bathsheba's model truly suffered from breast cancer.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) gels as photoacoustic breast phantoms revisited.

A popular phantom in photoacoustic imaging is poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel fabricated by freezing and thawing (F-T) aqueous solutions of PVA. The material possesses acoustic and optical properties similar to those of tissue. Earlier work characterized PVA gels in small test specimens where temperature distributions during F-T are relatively homogeneous.