Imaging human epithelial properties with polarized light-scattering spectroscopy

Biomedical imaging with light-scattering spectroscopy (LSS) is a novel opti cal technology developed to probe the structure of living epithelial cells in situ without need for tissue removal. LSS makes it possible to distingui sh between single backscattering from epithelial-cell nuclei and multiply s cattered light. The spectrum of the single backscattering component is furt her analyzed to provide quantitative information about the epithelial-cell nuclei such as nuclear size, degree of pleomorphism, degree of hyperchromas ia and amount of chromatin. LSS imaging allows mapping these histological p roperties over wide areas of epithelial lining. Because nuclear enlargement , pleomorphism and hyperchromasia are principal features of nuclear atypia associated with precancerous and cancerous changes in virtually all epithel ia, LSS imaging can be used to detect precancerous lesions in optically acc essible organs.