Overview
The purpose of this pilot study is to a) explore the photoacoustic properties of normal, polypoid, and malignant colorectal tissue and b) demonstrate the functionality of a novel endorectal photoacoustic ultrasound probe in humans with rectal cancer. The study includes two parts. The initial exploratory portion will be conducted ex vivo with resected colon and rectal specimens immediately following surgical excision. Based on those findings, an endorectal probe will then be constructed to examine in vivo tumors. The investigators hypothesize that in vivo photoacoustic imaging will be capable of differentiating normal from malignant tissue.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with adenomatous polyps or any stage colorectal cancer undergoing surgical resection without intraoperative frozen section analysis
- Age >18 years
- Able to provide informed consent
Additional Inclusion Criterion for in vivo imaging
-Lesion located within 15cm of the anal verge
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to provide consent
- Collection of intraoperative specimen for frozen section analysis will disqualify patients from participation