Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) is a promising tool for non-invasive skin imaging, with its capability for depth-resolved, high-resolution, fast, and polarization-sensitive imaging. Thirty volunteers are recruited for skin imaging on the palm, arm, forehead, and eye corner. A segmentation algorithm based on intensity images will segment the epidermis and dermis layers and also stratum corneum if applicable. Multi-contrast images, including phase retardation, local birefringence, and degree of polarization uniformity, will be obtained from different skin layers. Possible relationships between the optical properties and skin features including layered structure, collagen organization, melanin concertation, and skin roughness will be investigated.
Recently optical imaging is focused on non-invasive methods which could be automated and provide diagnostics in vivo. Coherence and polarization encoding the wave phase transformation create additional channels of information compared with the amplitude-based techniques. The modification of polarization properties like depolarization, birefringence, and diattenuation are the subject of polarimetry. One of the depolarization metrics is the Degree of Polarization (DOP), which represent the fraction of polarized light maintained while light propagates in media, ranging from 1 for fully polarized to 0 for totally depolarized light. After constructing a one-shot Stokes polarimetry probe, we conducted a preliminary clinical trial including 20 benign, 28 malignant skin lesions. Also 59 normal skin sites where tested. Using DOP as a diagnostics criterion we were able to separate Malignant Melanomas against all other lesions. Another depolarization metric tested was the Polarization Memory Rate (PMR) which characterizes the decay of circularly polarized light relative to linearly polarized light as light propagates in a medium. PMR demonstrates a strong diagnostics potential separating all cancer against benign lesions.
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