Xu Juntai, Ma Hongbin, Guo Zhaoxin, Xu Sheng, Yang Lixia, Liang Chao, Gao Chao, Wang Yubing, Zhai Dongwei, Lu Hongting
Department of Oncology Surgery, Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Huangdao District Qingdao, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Int J Surg. 2025 Aug 1;111(8):5036-5047. doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000002517. Epub 2025 Jun 20.
Neuroblastoma is a highly malignant, systemic sympathetic nerve tumor. Traditional surgical approaches often involve extensive excision, which can lead to additional tissue damage, underscoring the need for accurate and real-time tumor margin delineation. In this study, we introduce the application of Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) for tumor margin assessment and rapid pathological evaluation in neuroblastoma.
SH-SY5Y cells were employed to establish a subcutaneous tumor-bearing model in nude mice. Using a THz-TDS system, we conducted in vivo imaging of tumor-bearing mice in time domain signal and frequency domain signal, and performed transmission-mode THz detection on hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained neuroblastoma tissue sections. In THz imaging, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) was introduced as a contrast agent to enhance the imaging performance.
The results revealed a strong THz reflection signal at the tumor site in the tumor-bearing mice, with the THz imaging system clearly delineating the tumor region in agreement with pathological findings. Neuroblasotuma tissues exhibited higher THz absorption coefficients compared to normal tissues. THz spectroscopy provides an excellent imaging contrast ratio in 0.5-1.0 THz, which can be further improved with SPIO nanoparticle agent. Additionally, we observed a statistically significant difference of refractive index and absorption coefficient between the HE-stained tumor and healthy tissue sections ( P < 0.01) within the frequency range of 0.5-1.5 THz.
This work shows that THz-based imaging technology is able to distinguish the neuroblastoma and normal tissues in time and frequency domain, which offers a great potential for in vivo applications of neuroblastoma treatment. As an advanced technique, novel THz applications could open new avenues for precise diagnosing intraoperative neuroblastoma margins.
神经母细胞瘤是一种高度恶性的系统性交感神经肿瘤。传统手术方法通常需要广泛切除，这可能导致额外的组织损伤，凸显了准确实时勾勒肿瘤边缘的必要性。在本研究中，我们介绍了太赫兹时域光谱技术（THz-TDS）在神经母细胞瘤肿瘤边缘评估和快速病理评估中的应用。
采用SH-SY5Y细胞在裸鼠体内建立皮下荷瘤模型。利用太赫兹时域光谱系统，我们对荷瘤小鼠进行了时域信号和频域信号的体内成像，并对苏木精-伊红（HE）染色的神经母细胞瘤组织切片进行了透射模式太赫兹检测。在太赫兹成像中，引入超顺磁性氧化铁（SPIO）作为造影剂以增强成像性能。
结果显示荷瘤小鼠肿瘤部位有较强的太赫兹反射信号，太赫兹成像系统清晰地勾勒出肿瘤区域，与病理结果一致。神经母细胞瘤组织与正常组织相比表现出更高的太赫兹吸收系数。太赫兹光谱在0.5-1.0太赫兹范围内提供了出色的成像对比度，使用SPIO纳米颗粒剂可进一步提高。此外，我们观察到在0.5-1.5太赫兹频率范围内，HE染色的肿瘤组织切片与健康组织切片之间的折射率和吸收系数存在统计学显著差异（P<0.01）。
这项工作表明基于太赫兹的成像技术能够在时域和频域区分神经母细胞瘤和正常组织，这为神经母细胞瘤治疗的体内应用提供了巨大潜力。作为一种先进技术，新型太赫兹应用可为术中精确诊断神经母细胞瘤边缘开辟新途径。
