High-speed photoacoustic and ultrasonic computed tomography of the breast tumor for early diagnosis with enhanced accuracy

We have developed a high-speed dual-modal imaging system (HDMI), designed to concurrently reveal anatomical and hematogenous details of the human breast within seconds. Through innovative system design and technical advancements, HDMI integrates large-view photoacoustic and ultrasonic computed tomography with standardized scanning and batch data processing for computer-aided diagnosis. It achieves dual-modal imaging at a 10-hertz frame rate and completes a whole-breast scan in 12 seconds, providing penetration up to 5 centimeters in vivo. In a clinical study involving 170 patients with 186 breast tumors, we developed a diagnostic model leveraging combined photoacoustic and ultrasound features. In a triple-blinded comparison using pathological diagnosis as the ground truth, HDMI significantly improved diagnostic specificity from 22.5 to 75.0% compared to clinical ultrasonography. This technology shows strong potential for early breast tumor diagnosis, offering enhanced accuracy without the need for ionizing radiation, exogenous contrast agents, pain, invasiveness, operator dependence, or extended examination times.