# SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF BREAST DIAPHANOGRAPHY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA · 1987 · $80,804

## Abstract

The objective of the research is to establish the scientific basis for
efficacy of diaphanography for diagnosis of tumors of the breast.
Diaphanography involves transillumination of the breast by visible and near
infrared light, and imaging with a video camera.  It does not employ
ionizing radiation.  Malignant tumors have been detected by diaphanography,
but the reasons for the success are not well understood, nor are the
limitations of the method.  It is not clear that the optimum technique has
been found.  The proposed research project will investigate these questions
by several methods:  the diffuse transmittance and optical properties of
breast tisues will be measured from at least 600 nm (red) to 1100 nm (near
infrared) and extended up to 2000 nm if feasible.  The diffuse
transmittance measurements will be made in both surgical specimens and in
vivo, in the intact human breast.  The contrast due to an anomaly or lesion
in a matrix of tissue will be calculated and compared with measurements in
phantoms, investigating the dependence of contrast on the size, depth, and
optical scattering and absorption coefficients of anomaly and matrix.  The
anatomical or physiological basis for changes in optical properties will be
investigated by a combination of optical and histological techniques.
Particular attention will be paid to the role of absorption in blood in
tumor and surrounding tissue, and of changes in content of watery tissue,
related to the growth of the tumor.  The optical experiments and
histological results will be correlated with the appearance of the tumor in
color as well as monochrome diaphanography.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3172213
- **Project number:** 5R01CA034483-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G9QBQDH39DF4
- **Principal Investigator:** A EDWARD PROFIO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $80,804
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-15 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3172213

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3172213, SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF BREAST DIAPHANOGRAPHY (5R01CA034483-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3172213. Licensed CC0.

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