Frequency-domain techniques enhance optical mammography: initial clinical results.
We present a novel approach to optical mammography and initial clinical results. We have designed and developed a frequency-domain (110-MHz) optical scanner that performs a transillumination raster scan of the female breast in approximately 3 min. The probing light is a dual-wavelength (690 and 810 nm, 10-mW average power), 2-mm-diameter laser beam, and the detection optical fiber is 5 mm in diameter. The ac amplitude and phase data are processed with use of an algorithm that performs edge effect corrections, thereby enhancing image contrast. This contrast enhancement results in a greater tumor detectability compared with simple light intensity images. The optical mammograms are displayed on a computer screen in real time. We present x-ray and optical mammograms from two patients with breast tumors. Our initial clinical results show that the frequency-domain scanner, even at the present stage of development, has the potential to be a useful tool in mammography.
Franceschini
M A
MA
Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1110 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801-3080, USA.
Moesta
K T
KT
Fantini
S
S
Gaida
G
G
Gratton
E
E
Jess
H
H
Mantulin
W W
WW
Seeber
M
M
Schlag
P M
PM
Kaschke
M
M
D000465:Algorithms; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014965:X-Rays