We developed a hybrid continuous-wave/frequency-domain instrument to obtain both spatial and spectral information of the female breast. The two-dimensional (2D) tandem planar scanning of a compressed breast enables a pixel size of 2×2 mm² and a continuous spectra acquisition from 650 nm to 900 nm at every image pixel with a 0.5 nm spectral step. A 2D spline interpolation algorithm is implemented to increase the data sampling rate and reduce the pixel size to 0.5×0.5 mm². We then apply an edge-correction method to compensate the signal change due to the breast thickness variation. The resulted optical density image is further processed using a previously developed second-derivative algorithm to enhance the contrast and improve the spatial resolution of the optical inhomogeneities within the breast tissue. The finer structures displayed in the second-derivative image offer better identification of the pixels of interest associated with significant hemoglobin presence. We then employ a novel paired-wavelength oximetry method to determine the absolution value of oxygen saturation for those identified pixels of interest. We found the majority of oxygen saturation values from two healthy human subjects fall within the range 60%-95%, which is consistent with previously published results. Breast oximetry could have a potential applicability toward breast cancer detection and diagnostics and this novel paired-wavelength method can be a robust and accurate way to retrieve the oxygenation information in vivo.

Date Published: 23 February 2009
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 7174, Optical Tomography and Spectroscopy of Tissue VIII, 71740M (23 February 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.807862

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7174:
Optical Tomography and Spectroscopy of Tissue VIII
Bruce J. Tromberg; Arjun G. Yodh; Mamoru Tamura; Eva M. Sevick-Muraca; Robert R. Alfano, Editor(s)