Abstract
Non-laser and unmodulated laser breast transillumination in the past did not show convincing clinical results due to high light scattering. We investigate the potential benefit from high frequency light modulation to compensate for scattering by phase analysis. In a pilot study, 25 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for imageable breast lesions (15 malignant, 4 benign tumours and 6 mastopathy only) were investigated preoperatively. The scanning instrumentation provided light at 690nm and 810nm, both modulated at 110MHz, heterodyne detection enabled the phase measurement. Conventional images (transmission red/NIR) were compared to images of calculated mean absorption coefficient <i>μ<sub>a</sub></i> and reduced scattering coefficient μ<sub>s</sub> distribution, based on light absorption and phase information at both wavelengths. Conventional imaging did demonstrate 7/15 malignant lesions while 11/15 were visible on either <i>μ<sub>a</sub></i> or <i>μ<sub>s</sub></i>-images. Benign tumours were demonstrable in 3/4 cases, while mastopathy leading to surgical biopsy was always optically inapparent. High frequency modulation may considerably improve the diagnostic accuracy of laser breast transillumination.
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