Optical fine-needle aspiration biopsy in a rat model

Fine needle aspiration biopsy technique and following histological examination show its effectiveness and safety but its performing takes several time. However, the problem of real-time analysis of pathological changes in tissues remains relevant. We demonstrate optical fine-needle biopsy method, combining a fine needle (17.5G) and a fiber-optic probe (1 mm diameter) for minimally invasive interrogation of tissue in vivo. During rat tumor experiment, we collected spectrally-resolved diffuse reflectance and fluorescence. Quantified differences between tumor and normal tissues were demonstrated and approved with morphological analysis. The proposed methodology seems promising for developing new diagnostic criteria for clinical practice.