Is Blood Flow and Blood Volume informative for Photosensitizer uptake? In silico Simulation and in vivo MRI and SFDI Imaging study

Knowledge of the spatial photosensitizer accumulation is paramount for personalized PDT treatment planning. The spatial resolution at which Photosensitizer accumulation can result in significant alterations of an optimum interstitial light source placement and reduction of possible morbidity. Simulation studies showed that the spatial resolution of Blood flow and Blood volume must be equal to or larger than the effective attenuation coefficient of PDT treatment wavelength. While normal brain showed a correlation between blood flow, volume, and chlorin e6 accumulation, in tumors, only blood flow showed a correlation with photosensitizer uptake. Blood flow imaging can provide a non-invasive method to predict chlorin e6 accumulation prior to completing interstitial PDT treatment planning