Scattering coefficients of mice organs categorized pathologically by spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Differences in tissue density cause a variety of scattering coefficients. To quantify optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for diagnosis, the tissue's scattering coefficient is estimated by curve fitting the OCT signals to a confocal single backscattering mode. The results from a group of 30 mice show that the scattering coefficients of bone, skin, liver, brain, testis, and spleen can be categorized into three groups: a scattering coefficient between 1.947 and 2.134 mm(-1): bone and skin; a scattering coefficient between 1.303 and 1.461 mm(-1): liver and brain; a scattering coefficient between 0.523 and 0.634 mm(-1): testis and spleen. The results indicate that the scattering coefficient is tissue specific and could be used in tissue diagnosis.