ABSTRACT
While the image reconstruction methods presented in Chapter 1 and the linear algorithms such as backprojection and filtered backprojection seen in the literature can be used to provide high-quality photoacoustic (PA) images, the PA images provided are qualitative in nature as they represent only the distribution of absorbed light energy density that is the product of the intrinsic optical absorption coefficient and extrinsic optical fluence distribution, indicating that the absorbed energy density as an imaging parameter of conventional photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is clearly not an intrinsic property of tissue. It is well known, however, that it is the tissue absorption coefficient that directly correlates with tissue physiological/functional information. These physiological parameters including hemoglobin concentration, blood oxygenation, and water content are critical for accurate diagnostic decision making.
