Mueller matrix polarimetry for improved liver fibrosis diagnosis

Opt Lett. 2012 Mar 15;37(6):1061-3. doi: 10.1364/OL.37.001061.

Abstract

An experimental Mueller matrix polarimeter is used to quantify human liver fibrosis by measuring retardance and depolarization of thin biopsies. The former parameter is sensitive to fibrillar collagen, the latter is specifically sensitive to fibrillar collagen around blood vessels, which is not significant for liver fibrosis diagnosis. By using depolarization like a filter, retardance distribution enables distinguishing between disease stages and limits the high degree of observer discrepancy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Optical Phenomena*