| خلاصه مقاله | The Role of Optical Imaging Methods in Diagnosis of Breast Diseases
Currently breast cancer has been a great health challenge among human societies. Early diagnosis of breast cancer has a significant effect on control and management of this disease. If it diagnosed in early stages, it is known to be a disease with high survival rate. Along palpation examination, 3 other imaging methods including Mammography, MRI and ultrasound are being used clinically. There are other diagnostic methods for breast but due to complications and challenges present, they are still in research phase and not included in clinical studies. Aforementioned methods include tomosynthesis, elastography, photoacoustic and optical imaging[1].
In the past 15 years, Comprehensive researches about breast Optical imaging method have been conducted. The main advantages of this method are that its source is non-ionizing radiation, it is a low-cost method and images provided physiological aspects. This method based on usage of near infrared wavelengths (650 – 1000 nm) since they have high penetration capability in soft tissue. Main characteristics of breast cancerous masses are abnormal growth of tissue’s vascular and lymphatic systems, loss of extracellular matrix (ECM) biophysical and biochemical balance and change in HbR and HbO2 concentration; each of these factors can produce an optical image. Selection of wavelength is highly effective on visualizing of specific details of tissue[2-4]. Generally breast optical imaging is conducted in one of the following methods:
1. Continuous wave (CW): is the most simple and low-cost of all. This method has a lot of systematic errs
2. Frequency-domain: Scattered and absorbed light can be discriminated using different wave phases and reduction of wave amplitude.
3. Time-domain: this is the most complicated method but also provides maximum image data. this method uses very low duration pulses ( 50 – 400 picoseconds )
4. Spectroscopy: this method is a kind of pathologic scan which analyzes data using detector and source which can produce useful information of breast tissue. Usually in this method blood flow data and concentration of blood factors is determined. |