title: Terahertz pulse imaging in reflection geometry of human skin cancer and skin tissue.
abstract: We demonstrate the application of terahertz pulse imaging (TPI) in reflection geometry for the study of skin tissue and related cancers both in vitro and in vivo. The sensitivity of terahertz radiation to polar molecules, such as water, makes TPI suitable for studying the hydration levels in the skin and the determination of the lateral spread of skin cancer pre-operatively. By studying the terahertz pulse shape in the time domain we have been able to differentiate between diseased and normal tissue for the study of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Basal cell carcinoma has shown a positive terahertz contrast, and inflammation and scar tissue a negative terahertz contrast compared to normal tissue. In vivo measurements on the stratum corneum have enabled visualization of the stratum corneum-epidermis interface and the study of skin hydration levels. These results demonstrate the potential of terahertz pulse imaging for the study of skin tissue and its related disorders, both in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: Bryan E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Vincent P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: Donald D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Arnone
authors.forename: Edmund H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Linfield
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepper
mesh_terms: D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology