title: Sources of contrast in confocal reflectance imaging.
abstract: The relationship between optical properties and image contrast in confocal imaging is investigated. A Monte Carlo simulation has been developed to analyze the effects of changes in scattering, index of refraction, and absorption in a three-layer medium. Contrast was calculated from the computed signal-to-background ratios for changes in tissue optical properties. Results show that the largest source of contrast is changes in refractive index.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smithpeter
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Richards-Kortum