Study of in vivo brain glioma in a mouse model using continuous-wave terahertz reflection imaging.

We demonstrated that in vivo brain glioma in a mouse model using a continuous-wave terahertz reflection imaging system, as well as the ex vivo fresh brain tissues in mouse model. The tumor regions of in vivo and ex vivo brain tissues can be well distinguished by THz intensity imaging at the frequency of 2.52THz. The THz images with high sensitivity correlated well with magnetic resonance, visual and hematoxylin and eosin stained images. Furthermore, the THz spectral difference between brain gliomas and normal brain tissues were obtained in the 0.6THz to 2.8THz range, where brain gliomas have the higher refractive indices and absorption coefficients, and their differences increase particularly in the high frequency range. These results suggest that THz imaging has great potential as an alternative method for the intraoperative label-free diagnosis of brain glioma in vivo.