Determination of the optical properties of the human uterus using frequency-domain photon migration and steady-state techniques

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Abstract
The optical properties (absorption and transport scattering coefficients) of freshly excised, bulk human uterine tissues were measured at 630 nm using frequency-domain and steady-state photon migration techniques. Measurements were made on both normal (pre- and post-menopausal) and non-neoplastic fibrotic tissues. The absorption coefficient of normal postmenopausal tissue ( approximately 0.06 mm-1) was found to be significantly greater than that of normal pre-menopausal tissue (0.02-0.03 mm-1) and pre-menopausal fibrotic tissue (0.008 mm-1). The transport scattering coefficient was similar in all three tissue types considered (0.6-0.9 mm-1). From the preliminary results presented here, the authors conclude that optical properties can be reliably calculated either from the frequency-dependent behaviour of diffusely propagating photon density waves or by combining the frequency-independent photon density wave phase velocity with steady-state light penetration depth measurements. Instrument bandwidth and tissue absorption relaxation time ultimately determine the useful frequency range necessary for frequency-domain photon migration (FDPM) measurements. Based on the optical properties measured in this study, the authors estimate that noninvasive FDPM measurements of normal uterine tissue require modulation frequencies in excess of 350 MHz.