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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Reconstr Microsurg 2022; 38(03): 254-262
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736518
Review Article

Application of Photoacoustic Imaging for Lymphedema Treatment

Yushi Suzuki 
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Hiroki Kajita
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Shiho Watanabe
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Keisuke Okabe
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Hisashi Sakuma
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, Chiba, Japan
,
Nobuaki Imanishi
3   Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
,
Sadakazu Aiso
3   Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
4   Luxonus Inc. Kawasaki, Japan
,
Kazuo Kishi
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
› Author Affiliations Funding This research was funded by a grant from ImPACT Program of Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (Cabinet Office, Government of Japan) and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) JP21he2302002.
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Abstract

Background Lymphatic vessels are difficult to identify using existing modalities as because of their small diameter and the transparency of the lymph fluid flowing through them.

Methods Here, we introduce photoacoustic lymphangiography (PAL), a new modality widely used for lymphedema treatment, to observe limb lymphatic vessels. The photoacoustic imaging system used in this study can simultaneously visualize lymphatic vessels and veins with a high resolution (0.2 mm) and can also observe their three-dimensional relationship with each other.

Results High-resolution images of the lymphatic vessels, detailed structure of the dermal back flow, and the three-dimensional positional relationship between the lymphatic vessels and veins were observed by PAL.

Conclusion The clear image provided by PAL could have a major application in pre- and postoperative use during lymphaticovenular anastomosis for lymphedema treatment.

Keywords

lymphedema - lymphaticovenular anastomosis - lymphatic vessels - photoacoustic lymphangiography


Publication History

Received: 18 June 2021

Accepted: 13 September 2021

Article published online:
27 December 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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