Quantitative characterization of optical and physiological parameters in normal breasts using time-resolved spectroscopy: in vivo results of 19 Singapore women.

We report the quantitative measurements of optical and physiological parameters of normal breasts from 19 Singapore women by using time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy. Intrinsic absorption coefficient (mu(a)) and reduced scattering coefficients (mu(s) (')) of breasts were calculated from the time-resolved photon migration data. Physiology of breasts was characterized using the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, total hemoglobin (THC), and oxygenation saturation. On average, the experiment results showed that the mu(a) of young women (below 40 years old) was 36 to 38% greater than that of older women (above 40 years old) and that parameter THC was approximately 42% greater. Results also showed that the THC of premenopausal women was 24.3 microMol/L, which was approximately 69% larger than that of postmenopausal women at 14.1 microMol/L. Meanwhile, the mu(a) of premenopausal women was approximately 60% larger than that of postmenopausal women. Correlation analysis further showed that the optical and physiological parameters of breasts were strongly influenced by changes in the women's age, menopausal states, and body mass index. These in vivo experiment results will contribute to the breast tissue diagnosis between healthy and diseased breast tissues.