Imaging tissues with a polarized light video camera

Steven L. Jacques; Kenneth Lee M.D.

doi:10.1117/12.364366

17 September 1999 Imaging tissues with a polarized light video camera

Steven L. Jacques, Kenneth Lee M.D.

Proceedings Volume 3863, 1999 International Conference on Biomedical Optics; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.364366
Event: International Symposium on Biomedical Optics, 1999, Wuhan, China

Abstract

A method for imaging the superficial epidermal and papillary dermal layers of the skin is needed when assessing many skin lesions. We have developed an imaging modality using a video camera whose mechanism of contrast is the reflectance of polarized light from superficial skin. By selecting only polarized light to create the image, one rejects the large amount of diffusely reflected light from the deeper dermis. The specular reflectance (or glare) from the skin surface is also avoided in the setup. The resulting polarization picture maximally accents the details of the superficial layer of the skin and removes the effects of melanin pigmentation from the image. For example, freckles simply disappear and nevi lose their dark pigmentation to reveal the details of abnormal cellular growth. An initial clinical study demonstrated that the polarization camera could identify the margins of sclerosing basal cell carcinoma while the eye of the doctor underestimated the margin estimate. The camera identified an 11-mm-diameter lesion while the unaided eye identified a 6-mm-diameter lesion.

Citation Download Citation

Steven L. Jacques and Kenneth Lee M.D. "Imaging tissues with a polarized light video camera", Proc. SPIE 3863, 1999 International Conference on Biomedical Optics, (17 September 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.364366

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available