Novel Integration of an Ultrasound Probe and a Rotational-Scanning SQUID Biosusceptometer for Diagnosing Liver Tumors

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasonography (US), is a popular medical imaging technique for diagnosing liver tumors. However, the specificity of US in discriminating liver tumors from other liver lesions is limited. Although microbubble contrast agents (CAs) can improve the specificity, using them yields inadequate sensitivity and spatial resolution. To locate liver tumors accurately, patients are subsequently imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and superparamagnetic CAs, including iron-oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The diagnosis is better for patients by the instrument integrating US and magnetic technologies, rather than by administering different types of CAs with the healthy and cost loading. Hence, on the basis of the utility of MNP CAs in MRI, a US system and a magnetic type of the rotational-scanning superconducting-quantum-interference-device biosusceptometry were integrated in this study. In a phantom test, a magnetic image of the MNP distribution showed good agreement with an optical photo. In an animal test, the tumor location was confirmed with the same results of magnetic and US images. Test results regarding the proposed platform indicated that US probes are compatible with magnetic methodologies and, thus, can be used to enhance the performance of tumor diagnosis and reduce the cost and healthy loading of patients.