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.