Improving Medical Imaging for Patients with Dark Skin

Traditional medical imaging techniques have struggled to produce clear images for patients with dark skin. However, researchers have now found a way to improve medical imaging for individuals with varying skin tones.

The study, published in the journal Photoacoustics, involved testing the forearms of 18 volunteers with different skin tones. The researchers discovered that the imaging process, known as photoacoustic imaging, becomes more difficult to read as the darkness of the skin increases. This is because darker skin contains more melanin, which is one of the optical absorbers in our bodies.

Muyinatu Bell, an author of the study and director of the Photoacoustic and Ultrasonics Systems Engineering (PULSE) Lab at JHU, explained that the scattering of sound caused by melanin absorption creates confusion and makes it challenging to obtain focused sound signals needed for ultrasound imaging.

To address this issue, the researchers used a technique called “short-lag spatial coherence beamforming,” originally used for ultrasounds. This technique combines light and ultrasound technology, resulting in better image quality for all skin tones.

The study demonstrated that the signal-to-noise ratio, which measures the quality of the image by comparing the signal to background noise, improved when the new technique was applied. The researchers found that it was less sensitive to the skin color and reduced clutter artifacts caused by high levels of epidermal melanin.

The findings have significant implications for medical imaging applications, particularly in breast imaging. The researchers believe that their work can contribute to improving the overall image quality and accuracy of diagnosing various health conditions.

Moreover, the study highlights an issue of equity in healthcare. Medical technologies often exhibit biases towards lighter-skinned individuals, leading to disparities in healthcare outcomes. Dr. Camara Jones, a family physician and epidemiologist, emphasized that race is a social concept and not a biological determinant of health. The study’s results shed light on a broader problem of skin color biases in medical technology.

This research is a step towards eliminating discrimination in healthcare and inspiring the development of inclusive technology. As Muyinatu Bell explains, it is essential for technology to serve a wider range of the population and not just a small subset. The goal is to design medical imaging technology that works for everyone, regardless of their skin tone.