title: Determination of the optical properties of the human uterus using frequency-domain photon migration and steady-state techniques.
abstract: The optical properties (absorption and transport scattering coefficients) of freshly excised, bulk human uterine tissues were measured at 630 nm using frequency-domain and steady-state photon migration techniques. Measurements were made on both normal (pre- and post-menopausal) and non-neoplastic fibrotic tissues. The absorption coefficient of normal post-menopausal tissue (approximately 0.06 mm(-1)) was found to be significantly greater than that of normal pre-menopausal tissue (0.02-0.03 mm(-1)) and pre-menopausal fibrotic tissue (0.008 mm(-1)). The transport scattering coefficient was similar in all three tissue types considered (0.6-0.9 mm(-1)). From the preliminary results presented here, we conclude that optical properties can be reliably calculated either from the frequency-dependent behaviour of diffusely propagating photon density waves or by combining the frequency-independent photon density wave phase velocity with steady-state light penetration depth measurements. Instrument bandwidth and tissue absorption relaxation time ultimately determine the useful frequency range necessary for frequency-domain photon migration (FDPM) measurements. Based on the optical properties measured in this study, we estimate that non-invasive FDPM measurements of normal uterine tissue require modulation frequencies in excess of 350 MHz.
authors.affiliation: Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, CA 92715, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wyss
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Svaasand
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tadir
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Tromberg
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008593:Menopause; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D017785:Photons; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000503:physiopathology*