Assessing Absorption Coefficient of Hemoglobin in the Breast Phantom Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

BACKGROUND Blood concentrations and oxygen saturation levels are important biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis. OBJECTIVES In this study, the absorption coefficient of hemoglobin (Hb) was used to distinguish between normal and abnormal breast tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS A near-infrared source (637 nm) was transmitted from major and minor vessels of a breast phantom containing 2×, 4× concentrations of oxy- and deoxy-Hb. The absorption coefficients were determined from spectrometer (SM) and powermeter (PM) data. RESULTS The absorption coefficients were 0.075 ± 0.026 cm-1 for oxygenated Hb (normal) in major vessels and 0.141 ± 0.023 cm-1 at 4× concentration (abnormal) with SM, whereas the breast absorption coefficients were 0.099 ± 0.017 cm-1 for oxygenated Hb (normal) in minor vessels and 0.171 ± 0.005 cm-1 at 4× concentrations with SM. A comparison of the data obtained using a SM and a PM was not significant statistically. CONCLUSION The study of the absorption coefficient data of different concentrations of Hb in normal and abnormal breasts via the diffusion of near-infrared light is a valuable method and has the potential to aid in early detection of breast abnormalities with SM and PM in major and minor vessels.