Dynamic contrast enhanced optical imaging of cervix, in vivo: a paradigm for mapping neoplasia-related parameters.

We present a novel biophotonic method and imaging modality for estimating and mapping neoplasia-specific functional and structural parameters of the cervical precancerous epithelium. Estimations were based on experimental data obtained from dynamic contrast-enhanced optical imaging of cervix, in vivo. We have developed a pharmacokinetic, in silico, model of the optical tracer's uptake by the epithelium. We have identified that the kinetic parameters of the model correlate well with pathologic alterations in both metabolic and structural characteristics of the tissue, associated with the neoplasia progress. Global sensitivity analysis and global optimization methods were employed for identifying the key determinant set of biological parameters that dictate the model's output. Particularly, the shuffled complex evolution algorithm converged to a set of four parameters that can be estimated with an error of 7%, indicating a good accuracy and precision. These results are unique in the sense that for the first time functional and microstructural parameter maps can be estimated and displayed together, thus maximizing the diagnostic information. The quantity and the quality of this information are unattainable by other invasive and non invasive methods.