Abstract
Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) techniques provide a non-invasive, low cost and sensitive method for assessing the functional state of the human breast. Several studies undertaken in recent years with the objective of investigating the clinical applications of diffuse optical methods, demonstrate the potential of the technique for screening for breast cancer, associated risk factors and for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic regimen post-diagnosis. In this review, the different diffuse optical methods and instrumentation used in the functional imaging of the breast are described and the results of the clinical studies of the healthy and diseased breast are provided. Moreover, the application of optical imaging in monitoring neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is summarized, the role of alternate contrast mechanisms in optical imaging is outlined and lastly, the role of optical imaging in multimodal imaging – wherein optical imaging is combined with existing clinical imaging modalities providing complementary diagnostic information – is discussed.
Keywords: Optical imaging, diffuse optical tomography, functional imaging, optical mammography, breast cancer
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