Time-domain fluorescence mammography using early-time reflected signals :finite element approach

摘要

Optical spectroscopy based on the use of fluorescent contrast agents has become an interesting tool to detect and localize diseased tissues from healthy structures in a harmless way. Herein, we present a numerical model based on the finite element method that allows to simulate time-resolved reflectance signals from a realistic compartmented two-dimensional model of a breast bearing a small-sized fluorescent inclusion. Results show that the depth location of the inclusion can be well inferred from the observation of the time to reach the half maximum intensity of the reflected signals. Improvements may be obtained if depth localization is provided by a dimensionless indicator based on a two-way reflectance determination.