Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging to discriminate the normal, nodular goiter and papillary cancerous thyroid tissue.
Materials and Methods:
In total, 45 fresh thyroid specimens (normal, 15; nodular goiter, 12; and papillary cancerous, 18) from 31 subjects were directly imaged by the TPEF and SHG combination method.
Results:
The microstructure of follicle and collagen structure in thyroid tissue were clearly identified, morphologic changes between normal, nodular goiter, and papillary cancerous thyroid tissue were well characterized by using two-photon excitation fluorescence. SHG imaging of the collagen matrix also revealed the differences between normal and abnormal.
Conclusions:
Our preliminary study suggests that the TPEF and SHG combination method might be a useful tool in revealing pathologic changes in thyroid tissue.