Mueller matrix polarimetry for improved liver fibrosis diagnosis.

Abstract

An experimental Mueller matrix polarimeter is used to quantify human liver fibrosis by measuring retardance and depolarization of thin biopsies. The former parameter is sensitive to fibrillar collagen, the latter is specifically sensitive to fibrillar collagen around blood vessels, which is not significant for liver fibrosis diagnosis. By using depolarization like a filter, retardance distribution enables distinguishing between disease stages and limits the high degree of observer discrepancy.

• Authors: Matthieu Dubreuil, Philippe Babilotte, Loïc Martin, David Sevrain, Sylvain Rivet, Yann Le Grand, Guy Le Brun, Bruno Turlin, Bernard Le Jeune
• Journal: Optics letters (Opt Lett) Vol. 37 Issue 6 Pg. 1061-3 (Mar 15 2012) ISSN: 1539-4794 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22446225 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Humans
• Liver (pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (diagnosis, pathology)
• Optical Phenomena