Using Optical Coherence Tomography to Detect Tumors in Human Breast Tissue (2010)

Undergraduate: Amanda Sullivan

Faculty Advisor: Amy Oldenburg
Department: Physics & Astronomy

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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging technique that takes advantage of the light scattering properties of human tissue. Images are produced using a coherent light source at near-infrared wavelengths directed at the tissue and a Michelson interferometer to determine the interference pattern of the scattered light. The goal of my project is to help extend the use of OCT to the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Compared to other noninvasive imaging techniques, such as MRI, CT and PET, OCT has a much higher spatial resolution (~10-15 µm). In addition, it has a greater penetration depth (~2 mm) than higher-resolution techniques such as confocal microscopy. Therefore, it can be very useful in identifying tumors and lesions beneath the surface of breast tissue. In order to help provide a standard for doing this, I used the OCT system in the Optical Coherence Imaging lab to create and analyze images of breast tissue samples from mastectomy patients. I then compared the images with the histopathology results to see how the various breast structures and lesions appeared in the OCT image.