Novel Optical Techniques for Imaging Microcirculation in the Diabetic Foot.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Diabetology

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers with critical ischemia are severe and typically diagnosed using non-invasive methods with limitations in assessing microcirculation.
• Current diagnostics provide only global indications of ischemia, necessitating advanced techniques for local microcirculation assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review novel optical imaging techniques for assessing microcirculation in diabetic foot ulcers.
• To evaluate the applicability of Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging, Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging, Photoacoustic Imaging, and Hyperspectral Imaging for this purpose.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of the technical background and general clinical applications of each technique.
• A systematic review of studies (Jan 2000 - Nov 2017) on their application for microcirculation assessment in diabetic foot ulcers.

Main Results:

• Each optical imaging technique presents unique advantages and disadvantages for microcirculation assessment.
• Limited publications describe clinical outcomes, indicating that none of the techniques have strongly established clinical relevance yet.

Conclusions:

• Novel optical imaging techniques show promise for diagnosing microcirculation in diabetic foot ulcers.
• Further technical improvements and prospective trials are essential to determine the clinical value and relevance of these techniques.