Photoacoustic imaging on its way toward clinical utility: a tutorial review focusing on practical application in medicine

Significance: Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) enables the visualization of optical contrast with ultrasonic imaging. It is a field of intense research, with great promise for clinical application. Understanding the principles of PAI is important for engineering research and image interpretation.

Aim: In this tutorial review, we lay out the imaging physics, instrumentation requirements, standardization, and some practical examples for (junior) researchers, who have an interest in developing PAI systems and applications for clinical translation or applying PAI in clinical research.

Approach: We discuss PAI principles and implementation in a shared context, emphasizing technical solutions that are amenable to broad clinical deployment, considering factors such as robustness, mobility, and cost in addition to image quality and quantification.

Results: Photoacoustics, capitalizing on endogenous contrast or administered contrast agents that are approved for human use, yields highly informative images in clinical settings, which can support diagnosis and interventions in the future.

Conclusion: PAI offers unique image contrast that has been demonstrated in a broad set of clinical scenarios. The transition of PAI from a "nice-to-have" to a "need-to-have" modality will require dedicated clinical studies that evaluate therapeutic decision-making based on PAI and consideration of the actual value for patients and clinicians, compared with the associated cost.