Complementary analysis of Mueller-matrix images of optically anisotropic highly scattering biological tissues

Background: Using optical techniques for tissue diagnostics (so-called ‘optical biopsy’) has been a subject of extensive research for many years. Various groups have been exploring different spectral and/or imaging modalities (e.g. diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, autofluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), polarized light microscopy, etc.) for biomedical applications. In this paper, we report on using multi-wavelength imaging Mueller polarimetry combined with an appropriated image post-processing for the detection of tissue malignancy. Methods: We investigate a possibility of complementary analysis of Mueller matrix images obtained for turbid tissue-like scattering phantoms and excised human normal and cancerous colorectal tissue samples embedded in paraffin. Combined application of correlation, fractal and statistical analysis was employed to assess quantitatively the polarization-inhomogeneous scattered fields observed at the surface of tissue samples. Results: The combined analysis of the polarimetric images of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks has proved to be an efficient tool for the unambiguous detection of tissue malignant transformation. A fractal structure was clearly observed at spatial distributions of depolarization of light scattered in healthy tissues in a visible range of spectrum, while corresponding distributions for cancerous tissues did not show such dependence. We demonstrate that paraffin does not destroy a fractal structure of spatial distribution of depolarization. Thus, the loss of fractality in spatial distributions of depolarization for cancerous tissue is related to the structural changes in the tissue sample induced by cancer itself and, therefore, may serve as a marker of the disease. Conclusion: The obtained results emphasize that a combined use of statistical, correlation and fractal analysis for the Mueller-matrix image post-processing is an effective approach for an assessment of variations of optical properties in turbid tissue-like scattering media and biological tissues, with a high potential to be transferred to clinical practice for screening cancerous tissue samples

Développement d'un colposcope polarimétrique de Müller pour le dépistage du cancer du col utérin : premières mesures in-vivo.

This thesis was devoted to the development and the implementation of a polarimetric imager of Müller installed on a standard colposcope in order to diagnose invivo precancerous lesions of the cervix.This work was based on the development carried out during the last ten years at the LPICM at the Ecole polytechnique of a new non-invasive medical imaging technology and a priori adapted to the early detection of cancer: polarimetric imaging.Cette thèse a été consacrée au développement et à la mise en oeuvre d’un imageur polarimétrique de Müller installé sur un colposcope standard dans le but de diagnostiquer invivo des lésions précancéreuses du col utérin.Ce travail s’est appuyé sur le développement réalisé durant les dix dernières années au LPICM à l'École polytechnique d’une nouvelle technologie d'imagerie médicale non invasive et a priori adaptée à la détection précoce du cancer : l’imagerie polarimétrique

Developpement of a Müller colposcope to prevent the cervical cancer : first in-vivo results

Cette thèse a été consacrée au développement et à la mise en oeuvre d’un imageur polarimétrique de Müller installé sur un colposcope standard dans le but de diagnostiquer invivo des lésions précancéreuses du col utérin.Ce travail s’est appuyé sur le développement réalisé durant les dix dernières années au LPICM à l'École polytechnique d’une nouvelle technologie d'imagerie médicale non invasive et a priori adaptée à la détection précoce du cancer : l’imagerie polarimétrique.This thesis was devoted to the development and the implementation of a polarimetric imager of Müller installed on a standard colposcope in order to diagnose invivo precancerous lesions of the cervix.This work was based on the development carried out during the last ten years at the LPICM at the Ecole polytechnique of a new non-invasive medical imaging technology and a priori adapted to the early detection of cancer: polarimetric imaging

Demonstration of Mueller polarimetry through an optical fiber for endoscopic applications

International audienc

Dispositif et méthode de caractérisation polarimétrique déportée par fibre optique

Demande de brevet France n° 145 2244 déposée le 18 mars 2014, demande extension PCT EP2015/053437 18 février 201

Ex vivo Mueller polarimetric imaging of the uterine cervix: a first statistical evaluation

International audienc

Demonstration of full 4_4 Mueller polarimetry through an optical fiber for endoscopic applications

International audienc