High-angle scattering events strongly affect light collection in clinically relevant measurement geometries for light transport through tissue

Measurement of light transport in tissue has the potential to be an inexpen sive and practical tool for non-invasive tissue diagnosis in medical applic ations because it can provide information on both morphological and biochem ical properties. To capitalize on the potential of light transport as a dia gnostic tool, an understanding of what information can be gleaned from ligh t transport measurements is needed. We present data concerning the sensitiv ity of light transport measurements, made in clinically relevant geometries , to scattering properties. The intensity of the backscattered light at sma ll source-detector separations is shown to be sensitive to the phase functi on, and furthermore the collected light intensity is found to be correlated with the amount of high-angle scattering in the medium.