Tumor tissue characterization apparatus and method

An instrument for characterizing a tumor in breast tissue, comprising:

• a broad-band light source capable of delivering varying wavelengths in a predetermined range;
• a needle having a hollow shaft, a tip on one end of said shaft, and a base on the other end of said shaft;
• an optical fiber positioned within said hollow needle for delivering light from said light source through said tip to a desired region of tissue;
• a photodiode mounted in said shaft and having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft for detecting back-scattered light from said region of tissue;
• and
• means for monitoring the back-scattered light detected by said photodiode and determining the spectral characteristics of the back-scattered light in said region of tissue.

A method for characterizing mammographically abnormal tissue, comprising the steps of:

• inserting into a region of suspected abnormal tissue a hollow needle comprising a shaft including an optical fiber positioned within said shaft and a photodetector mounted in said shaft having a light sensitive surface facing outward from a side of said shaft;
• supplying light of varying wavelengths to said fiber;
• detecting back-scattered light from said tissue region with said photodetector;
• and
• monitoring the back-scattered light detected by said photodetector and determining the spectral characteristics of the back-scattered light in said region of tissue.