Impact Factor
Global reach, higher impact
Theranostics 2025; 15(3):1017-1034. doi:10.7150/thno.102671 This issue Cite
Review
Optical molecular imaging technology and its application in precise surgical navigation of liver cancer
1. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
2. State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China.
3. Department of General Surgery, Institute of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic-Intestinal Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, China.
# P. He, and H. Tang contributed equally to this work.
Abstract
Recent innovations in medical imaging technology have placed molecular imaging techniques at the forefront of diagnostic advancements. The current research trajectory in this field aims to integrate personalized molecular data of patients and diseases with traditional anatomical imaging data, enabling more precise, non-invasive, or minimally invasive diagnostic options for clinical medicine. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the basic principles and system components of optical molecular imaging technology. It also examines commonly used targeting mechanisms of optical probes, focusing especially on indocyanine green—the FDA-approved optical dye widely used in clinical settings—and its specific applications in diagnosing and treating liver cancer. Finally, this review highlights the advantages, limitations, and future challenges facing optical molecular imaging technology, offering a comprehensive overview of recent advances, clinical applications, and potential impacts on liver cancer treatment strategies.
Keywords: Molecular imaging, Theranostics, Liver cancer, Surgical navigation