Challenges in Terahertz Imaging of Freshly Excised Human Breast Tumors

Pulsed terahertz is investigated to image excised breast human tissue. Images of normal tissues obtained from breast reduction surgery are presented in addition to images of breast cancer tumors. Breast reduction tissue includes fat and fibroglandular regions, while malignant tumors include fat, fibroglandular and infiltrating ductal carcinoma regions. Breast tissue was received within 24 hours of surgery and was immersed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium solution, defined here as fresh tissue. The bulk tissue of the same tumor is then fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin to be scanned on the terahertz system. Histopathology images of 3-4 μm hematoxylin and eosin stained sections sliced from the top of the fixed tissue block are presented for comparison with terahertz images. Results demonstrate good agreement between terahertz and pathology images, particularly for fixed tissues.