Abstract
Different techniques have been proposed to correlate optical properties of tissue and their physiology/pathology. In this paper, we describe a new optical biopsy method based on spatially resolved reflectance measurement using a small diameter probe (phi 1.8 mm). The development of an appropriate model for photon propagation in tissue at such distances allows us to determine simultaneously reduced scattering coefficient mu(s)' and absorption coefficient mu(a). Being made spectroscopically, the measurements then provide information both on tissue structure (related to scattering coefficient) and chromophore content (related to absorption coefficient). Such features can be used to distinguish between normal tissues and various pathologies. We present the guidelines of the method and preliminary results obtained on mice, where significant contrast has been observed between normal and altered epidermis and dermis. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.