Wide-field quantitative micro-elastography of human breast tissue

We have developed a wide-field quantitative micro-elastography system for the assessment of tumor margins. In this technique, we map tissue elasticity over a field-of-view of ~46 × 46 mm.

We performed wide-field quantitative micro-elastography on thirteen specimens of freshly excised tissue acquired from patients undergoing mastectomy. We present wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, qualitative (strain) micro-elastograms and quantitative (elasticity) micro-elastograms, acquired in 10 minutes. We demonstrate, for the first time, that wide-field quantitative micro-elastography can extend the range of tumors visible using OCT-based elastography by providing contrast not present in either OCT or qualitative micro-elastography and, in addition, can reduce imaging artifacts caused by a lack of contact between tissue and the imaging window.