Human tissue characterization and cancer margin assessment toward real-time THz imaging for clinical applications

THz waves are extremely sensitive to the degree of hydration, which is strongly correlated with electric properties and malignancies of various tissues due to their composition and morphological differences. As such, imaging in the THz band can provide a detailed picture of the malignant tumor with accurate assessment of tissue morphology and margins. Thus, here, we develop a database of the THz response of several human organ tissue groups using broadband time domain THz spectroscopy. We also investigate the use of real-time THz camera imaging to differentiate between benign and malignant tissues for the surgical margin identification in a clinical setting. For this purpose, we are developing a comprehensive study of THz spectroscopic characteristics and cancer margin assessment for human organ tissues.