We introduce a technique called dual-spatial integration (DSI) that is used
to isolate and enhance inclusions that differ only by their longitudinal p
lacement within a scattering medium. DSI uses three different source-detect
or configurations to section a scattering medium into three longitudinal zo
nes. This sectioning permits the extraction of structures close to surfaces
and the enhancement of those structures located in the central part of the
medium. Both the simulation and the experimental results indicate that DSI
has potential interest for applications in biomedical imaging such as opti
cal mammography. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 170.5280,
170.3830, 170.7050, 170.3880, 170.6920.