The optical properties of porcine nasal cartilage

Optical absorption and scattering coefficients have been determined for fre sh and cryopreserved porcine nasal cartilage at a wavelength of 632.8 nm, T otal transmission measurements were made on thin cryopreserved and fresh sp ecimens. Cryopreserved tissue was sectioned while frozen using a microtome. Native thin fresh specimens were obtained from cartilage tissue at the jun ction of the cartilagenous septum and maxillary crest. Diffuse reflectance and transmittance measurements were performed on thick tissue specimens usi ng standard integrating sphere techniques. Monte Carlo computer simulations were performed to obtain absorption and scattering coefficients, as well a s the mean cosine of the scattering angle. The optical properties of porcin e nasal cartilage are characterized by low absorption and high scatter. Abs orption coefficients are 0.14 +/- 0.05 and 0.17 +/- 0.07 cm(-1) for cryopre served and fresh tissue, respectively. The corresponding cryopreserved and fresh tissue scattering coefficients are 304 +/- 47 and 297 +/- 68 cm(-1). The scattered light is highly forward peaked as indicated by the mean cosin e of the scattering angle; 0.973 +/- 0.005 and 0.967 +/- 0.013 for cryopres erved and fresh tissue, respectively. The results indicate that there is no statistically significant difference between the optical properties of fre sh and cryopreserved porcine nasal cartilage.