Multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy imaging system for improvement of diagnostic accuracy in localized prostate cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-channel NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy) system for improvement of diagnostic accuracy in localized prostate cancer and to verify its diagnostic capability with the optical phantoms of prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We developed the multi-channel NIRS system and the optical phantoms of normal prostate gland and localized prostate cancer. Computer software named Labview (National Instruments, Austin, TX, USA) was used to develop GUI (Graphic User Interface) which can process incoming signals and display them on the same monitor simultaneously. We measured NIRS signal attenuation through the developed phantoms and reconstructed 2D images based on the calculated absorption coefficients. We compared the reconstructed 2D images with the actual location of the localized prostate cancer component in the optical phantom.Results: Area with high absorption coefficients was well correlated with the actual location of the localized prostate cancer component in the optical phantom.Conclusion: We successfully demonstrated possibility of our NIRS system as a new potential imaging method for improvement of diagnostic accuracy in localized prostate cancer. In future, the NIRS system will possibly be combined with TRUS (trans-rectal ultrasonography), improving diagnostic accuracy of focal prostate cancer imaging and localization of target biopsy sites.