Three-dimensional optical imaging of microvascular networks within intact lymph node in vivo

J Biomed Opt. 2010 Sep-Oct;15(5):050501. doi: 10.1117/1.3496301.

Abstract

Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are the first lymph nodes to drain wastes originated from cancerous tissue. There is a need for an in vivo imaging method that can image the intact SLN to further our understanding of its normal as well as abnormal functions. We report the use of ultrahigh sensitive optical microangiography (UHS-OMAG) to image functional microvascular and lymphatic vessel networks that innervate the intact lymph node in mice in vivo. The promising results show a potential role of UHS-OMAG in the future understanding and diagnosis of the SLN involvement in cancer development.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Breast Neoplasms / secondary
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Lymph Nodes / blood supply*
  • Lymphatic Vessels / anatomy & histology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microvessels / anatomy & histology*
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*