PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | February 29, 2016
Proc. SPIE. 9689, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics XII
KEYWORDS: Optical imaging, Second-harmonic generation, Multiphoton microscopy, Tissues, Blood, Optical coherence tomography, Luminescence, Fourier transforms, Image resolution, Collagen, Fallopian tube, Tissue optics, Ovarian cancer, Ovary
Optical imaging methods have the potential to detect ovarian cancer at an early, curable stage. Optical imaging has the
disadvantage that high resolution techniques require access to the tissue of interest, but miniature endoscopes that
traverse the natural orifice of the reproductive tract, or access the ovaries and fallopian tubes through a small incision in
the vagina wall, can provide a minimally-invasive solution.
We have imaged both rodent and human ovaries and fallopian tubes with a variety of endoscope-compatible modalities.
The recent development of fiber-coupled femtosecond lasers will enable endoscopic multiphoton microscopy (MPM).
We demonstrated two- and three-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF, 3PEF), and second- and third-harmonic generation
microscopy (SHG, THG) in human ovarian and fallopian tube tissue. A study was undertaken to understand the
mechanisms of contrast in these images. Six patients (normal, cystadenoma, and ovarian adenocarcinoma) provided
ovarian and fallopian tube biopsies. The tissue was imaged with three-dimensional optical coherence tomography,
multiphoton microscopy, and frozen for histological sectioning. Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and
eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Sudan black.
Approximately 1 μm resolution images were obtained with an excitation source at 1550 nm. 2PEF signal was absent.
SHG signal was mainly from collagen. 3PEF and THG signal came from a variety of sources, including a strong signal
from fatty connective tissue and red blood cells. Adenocarcinoma was characterized by loss of SHG signal, whereas
cystic abnormalities showed strong SHG. There was limited overlap of two- and three- photon signals, suggesting that
three-photon imaging can provide additional information for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
