Abstract: 【Abstract】 Photoacoustic imaging is a kind of non-invasive technology without ionizing radiation that can be used to image optical absorbers in tumor tissues according to the principle of "light in and sound out". It has the advantages of high contrast of optical imaging as well as high penetrability of acoustic imaging. However, current researches on photoacoustic imaging are still limited in the laboratory. This technology can be used for detection of cutaneous melanoma in situ and non-melanoma skin cancer, sentinel lymph node imaging, detection and eradication of circulating tumor cells by combining real-time laser ablation technique, and versatile imaging and treatment with the aid of exogenous imaging agents. This review summarizes preclinical experiments about photoacoustic imaging technology in skin tumors, with a view to promoting its clinical application at an early date.

Key words: Photoacoustic techniques, Skin neoplasms, Preclinical trial