Abstract

Laser spectroscopy applied to diagnosis of diseased tissue is a rapidly expanding field. Cancer and atherosclerotic plaque detection and demarcation using fluorescence monitoring of marker molecules or naturally occurring chromophores seem to have a substantial potential. The techniques can be used in a time-integrated or time-resolved mode, and point monitors as well as imaging systems are being developed. In parallel, photon migration in tissue, with special emphasis on the interplay between absorption and scattering is being studied, e.g., for photodynamic therapy dosimetry and optical transillumination. The field is reviewed in a recent special issue of IEEE J. Quant. Electa.¹ Overviews of our own work are given in refs. 2 and 3.

© 1991 Optical Society of America