[Spectral transillumination of the female breast].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of wavelength-associated characteristics by transilluminating normal and pathological breast tissue.


METHODS
80 in vivo and 52 in vitro measurements were carried out with a Mammaspectrograph (Siemens AG, ZFE München). 31 patients had a carcinoma and 59 patients a benign breast lesion. Measurements were performed with an increment of 10 nm, wavelengths between 550-1100 nm.


RESULTS
Normal and pathological breast tissue could be characterised in the area of absorption maxima of fat, water and haemoglobin. Atrophic breast tissue has a remarkable transmission minimum at 930 nm. Tumors with a high number of cells and neovascularisation showed a strong absorption over the entire "diagnostic window" and a transmission minimum at 970 nm. Below 700 nm the high concentration of haemoglobin resulted in an increase of transmission. Less wavelength-associated characteristics were seen in tumors with mastopatically-transformed surrounding tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
To differentiate breast tissue, transillumination has to be performed in the area of absorption maxima of fat, water and haemoglobin.
Puls
R
R
Klinik für Strahlenheilkunde, Charité, Campus-Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin. ralf.puls@charite.de
Heusmann
H
H
Heywang-Köbrunner
S H
SH
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014172:Transillumination