ABSTRACT Targeted photoacoustic imaging using exogenous contrast agents can potentially improve early detection of breast cancer, even at significant depths inside the breast. In this study, computer simulations were performed to compare the photoacoustic performance of 11 different near-infrared (NIR) dyes for detecting tumours deep inside the breast tissue. It was observed that the three high performing NIR dyes produced at least two-fold contrast enhancement of a spherical breast tumour embedded at 4 cm depth inside the breast than those of the corresponding endogenous contrast agents. These three selected dyes were employed to visualize small blood vessels deep inside the breast tissue. Although methylene blue provided the best contrast in visualizing tumour blood vessels at depths beyond 3 cm, considering other factors such as availability of suitable targeting agent, indocyanine green at 800 nm may be preferred over all other dyes for deep breast imaging applications.

中文翻译：

---

通过模拟光声成像，近红外染料作为乳腺癌检测的有效造影剂的性能

摘要 使用外源性造影剂的靶向光声成像可以潜在地改善乳腺癌的早期检测，即使在乳房内部的显着深度也是如此。在这项研究中，进行了计算机模拟来比较 11 种不同的近红外 (NIR) 染料的光声性能，用于检测乳房组织深处的肿瘤。据观察，与相应的内源性造影剂相比，三种高性能 NIR 染料对嵌入乳房内部 4 厘米深度的球形乳腺肿瘤产生了至少两倍的对比度增强。这三种选定的染料用于可视化乳房组织深处的小血管。尽管亚甲蓝在可视化超过 3 cm 深度的肿瘤血管时提供了最佳对比度，