New Imaging Breakthrough Offers Hope for Early Diagnosis of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

In a recent study, a team of researchers from Spain and China developed and tested a new approach for diagnosing and monitoring acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). This study, which was published in the journal Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, showcased how hyperspectral imaging (HSI), as well as visible–near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy, can be used to monitor necrotic changes in intestinal tissues (1).

AMI occurs when there is a sudden decline in blood flow through the mesenteric blood vessels (2). It is a condition that can be life-threatening, and it is associated with high mortality rates (1,2). Treating AMI early is paramount for decreasing the mortality rates (2). Currently, several diagnostic methods are used to detect and monitor AMI, but these methods involve imaging scans and invasive procedures (1).

Woman using digital x-ray of human intestine holographic scan projection 3D rendering | Image Credit: © sdecoret - stock.adobe.com

In their study, the researchers sought to improve on these methods to make them more accurate and less invasive. Using HSI in the visible and near-infrared (VIS-NIR) range, paired with multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis, the researchers detected and monitored necrotic changes in intestinal tissues (1). As part of the experimental procedure, the researchers tested their method on four healthy, large-eared white rabbits. The researchers chose rabbits because their intestinal physiology closely resembles that of humans (1). Ischemia was induced manually, and hyperspectral images were collected at multiple time points (10, 30, 60, and 90 minutes) to create a data set of 16 imaging cubes spanning wavelengths between 400 and 1000 nm (1).

The researchers found that by combining HSI with MCR, they were able to distinguish between normal and necrotic tissues based on characteristic absorption peaks in the spectral data. Importantly, the analysis was conducted across three dimensions: spectral, spatial, and temporal (1). The necrotic segments were found, and the researchers were also able to determine their exact location and biochemical evolution over time. The findings revealed that necrotic components in intestinal tissue increased dramatically within the first 30 minutes after the blood supply was cut off, coinciding with the rapid deoxygenation of hemoglobin into deoxyhemoglobin (1). After this critical period, necrotic changes stabilized, signaling the onset of irreversible tissue damage.

The benefits of using HSI with MCR are that it is non-invasive, real-time, and capable of providing detailed biochemical insights into tissue composition and changes, which is something conventional imaging alone cannot achieve.

As a result, there are numerous important implications of this study. For one, the method presented here offers a viable way for surgeons to make faster and more accurate intraoperative decisions. This could potentially spare patients from unnecessary resections or delays in treatment (1). Moreover, the ability to visualize necrosis progression in real time could lead to the development of new diagnostic indices and predictive models for intestinal ischemia (1).

Another important note on this study is that the method was tested on animals. However, based on the results acquired, they suggest that their methodology could be applied to other biological organisms. The integration of MCR with trilinear models in particular provides a solid foundation for future clinical validation (1). They highlighted the importance of minimizing biological variability by comparing multiple animals under standardized conditions, which helped strengthen the reliability of the results (1).

Ultimately, the study underscores the transformative potential of combining advanced imaging with chemometric analysis for non-invasive diagnostics. If validated in human studies, this approach could influence how clinicians diagnose and treat AMI, offering a tool that not only detects tissue necrosis earlier but also improves surgical precision and patient outcomes (1).

References

1. Peng, C.; Chen, X.; Zhu, L.; et al. Analysis of ischemic intestinal tissue composition based on visible and near-infrared reflectance hyperspectral imaging and multivariate curve resolution. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 2025, 346, 126841. DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.126841
2. Monita, M. M.; Gonzalez, L. Acute Mesenteric Ischemia. NIH.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431068/ (accessed 2025-08-28).