Tri-modal Imaging Instrument for Thyroid Cancer

Clinical Evaluation of a Prototype Tri-modal Imaging Instrument for Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer affects 6,000 Canadians each year. Nodules on the thyroid are detected using ultrasound imaging and surgery is the most common treatment. However, most nodules are benign, and therefore a biopsy is needed to decide whether surgery is necessary. Ultrasound imaging is very sensitive for localizing nodules, but does not differentiate between cancerous and benign ones. To address this limitation of US imaging, investigators have designed and constructed, in collaboration with Sogang University, Seoul, S. Korea, a novel imaging system that performs complimentary imaging modalities (ultrasound (US), photoacoustic (PA)) that could potentially help diagnose nodules without the need for biopsy and unnecessary surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female patients with thyroid nodules (cancerous, benign or undetermined)
2. 18 years of age or older
3. Have been consented to their standard-of-care surgery for resection of the thyroid (partial or complete) and lymph nodes (if applicable)
4. Have had pre-surgical US imaging of the thyroid and lymph nodes

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to provide informed consent
2. Pre-operative therapy for current thyroid cancer (including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and radiotherapy)
3. History of photosensitivity or skin disease (exposure to laser light is involved in PA imaging)
4. Pregnancy