X-ray generated images, such as mammograms, rely on the density of tissue within the breast. Tissue density are believed to be associated with proliferation of stroma and/or epithelium, which result in an increase in water associated light absorption and a decrease in lipid associated light absorption. The amount of density of the breast tissue has been shown to be an indicator of cancer risk. Thus, assessing this breast tissue density is also an important tool in determining breast cancer risk.
Optical transillumination has been shown to give information about tissue composition and tissue density. Unlike x-ray mammography which uses ionizing radiation, optical transillumination uses normal white light and is deemed safe to be used frequently for women of all ages and therefore can be used for those situations where mammography is not an option.
Normal white light is shone into the tissue and the light that leaves the breast on the other side from the source is detected and analyzed. Since the same physiological conditions that contribute to dense breast tissue, as seen in mammography, also will have unique optical signatures.
We will compare the amount of this dense tissue from the mammogram, taken with 12 months, to the density measurements found through the optical procedure. The goal is to be able to duplicate the information from the mammogram using the transillumination technique. All measurements are non-invasive and no blood samples or biopsies are required.
