Time-Resolved Fluorescence Tomography in Cancer Research: Backward Versus Toward Geometry

Fluorescence Diffuse Optical Tomography is an optical non-invasive molecular technique for cancer imaging. Depending on the accessibility of the organ two main geometries might be considered, reflection or transmission. We will present first experimental and reconstruction comparison between these two geometries, on a laboratory time resolved bench. Both acquisitions were made using a fluorophore inclusion positioned in a liquid phantom, with breast comparable optical properties. We successfully reconstructed all fluorophore positions examined in both geometries. Reflection geometry suffers of many drawbacks that we have to deal with. We will present all challenges it implies, and also what are the advantages to use time resolved techniques in both geometries.