Forward-Looking Multimodal Endoscopic System Based on Optical Multispectral and High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging Techniques for Tumor Detection

Emerging clinical applications in oncology for non-invasive multi- and hyperspectral imaging of cell and tissue autofluorescence

Hyperspectral and multispectral imaging of cell and tissue autofluorescence is an emerging technology in which fluorescence imaging is applied to biological materials across multiple spectral channels. This produces a stack of images where each matched pixel contains information about the sample's spectral properties at that location. This allows precise collection of molecularly specific data from a broad range of native fluorophores. Importantly, complex information, directly reflective of biological status, is collected without staining and tissues can be characterised in situ, without biopsy. For oncology, this can spare the collection of biopsies from sensitive regions and enable accurate tumour mapping. For in vivo tumour analysis, the greatest focus has been on oral cancer, whereas for ex vivo assessment head-and-neck cancers along with colon cancer have been the most studied, followed by oral and eye cancer. This review details the scope and progress of research undertaken towards clinical translation in oncology.

The use of ultrasound in colonic and perianal diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To revise recent literature findings regarding the use of ultrasound in colonic and perianal diseases by focusing particularly on its feasibility in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), colorectal neoplastic lesions, and perineal diseases, with further highlight on interventional capabilities.

RECENT FINDINGS

Treat-to-target approach in IBD raised an interest in intestinal ultrasound (IUS) for monitoring bowel activity considering its noninvasive nature, low costs, and well tolerability. New IUS indices have been developed with ever better methodologies and are at various stage of validation. A standardized over-the-wire technique for colonic US using a flexible overtube enables endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue sampling beyond the rectum, and forward-viewing radial-array echoendoscopes can assist identification of early neoplastic lesions in proximal colon. Intraoperative ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound carry an additional diagnostic value compared to conventional preoperative imaging modalities in detecting colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM).

SUMMARY

The feasibility of IUS in monitoring IBD activity is supported by growing evidence, but uniform IUS indices are still lacking. Recent advancements in EUS are expanding capabilities for determining depth of invasion of colorectal neoplasms, tissue sampling, and EUS-guided interventions to the entire colon. Ultrasonography can be a valuable tool in CRLM diagnostics as well.

Diagnostic Value of Color Doppler Ultrasonography in Subacute Thyroiditis

In order to explore the clinical effect of color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis, a method for the diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis by color Doppler ultrasonography was proposed. From November 2019 to November 2020, 90 patients with subacute thyroiditis in our hospital were selected as the experimental group; 90 healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period. Both groups were diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasonography and compared. The experimental results showed that patients with subacute thyroiditis showed mild to moderate enlargement of the involved thyroid gland, and local or diffuse inhomogeneous hypoechoic areas may appear in bilateral or unilateral thyroid glands: irregular edges, unclear boundaries, no "ball feel," mottled changes, and accompanied by tenderness. The blood flow signal around the hypoechoic area is rich, and the internal blood flow signal is less. There was no significant increase in the blood flow velocity of the superior thyroid artery on the affected side. Color Doppler ultrasound not only is simple, economical, and non-invasive but also has a good diagnostic accuracy for subacute thyroiditis, which can provide an important basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment and is worthy of popularization and application.

Clinical Value and Imaging Features of Bedside High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Pneumonia

The aim is to solve the problem of the urgent need of a nonradiation, noninvasive, and simple-to-operate diagnostic method for neonatal pneumonia that can indicate the severity of the disease and dynamically monitor the outcome of the disease. The authors propose a bedside high-frequency ultrasound technique based on methods for evaluation in the detection and treatment of neonatal pneumonia. The results obtained are as follows: the sensitivity of neonatal lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia was 96.6%, the specificity was 93.3%, the positive predictive value was 93.5%, and the negative predictive value was 96.5%. The sensitivity of chest X-ray in the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia was 93.3%. Compared with the lung ultrasound and chest X-ray in the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia, the two had a good correlation. The neonatal respiratory score was positively correlated with the lung ultrasound score, and the higher the lung ultrasound score, the more severe the disease. The score decreased by 35% after 3 days of treatment and 68% after 7 days of treatment, indicating that the lung high-frequency ultrasound score can be very effective in characterizing the treatment situation. It has been demonstrated that the lung ultrasound can be used as an imaging method for the diagnosis of neonatal pneumonia. The higher the lung ultrasound score, the more severe the disease, and the lung ultrasound score was positively correlated with the disease severity. With dynamic monitoring of the lung ultrasound and the gradual improvement of clinical symptoms after treatment, the lung ultrasound score gradually decreased; therefore, the lung ultrasound can be used for re-examination of neonatal pneumonia to evaluate the treatment effect and guidance.