Experimental assessment of analytical models for estimating tumor optical properties in laser pulse mammography

We analyzed measured and simulated phantom data for absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of embedded spherical inhomogeneities using various analytical models, based on diffusion theory. The model of diffraction of photon density waves was found to be superior to the empirical, non-linear perturbation model (Padé approximants) whereas linear perturbation theory considerably underestimates absorption in the range of absorption coefficients and spherical volumes most relevant to tumors detected by optical mammography. © 2004 SPIE and OSA Optical properties, light propagation in tissues, time-resolved imaging.