Detecting melanoma with a terahertz spectroscopy imaging technique

Transmission mode terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system was employed to image BALB/c mouse skin tissue slices containing melanoma. The melanoma was unambiguously identified in the frequency region of 0.6–1.8 THz because melanoma has a higher refractive index as well as a higher absorption coefficient than the normal region of the skin tissue. Based on the results of hematoxylin-eosin staining and mass weighing, it was further suggested that the higher density of nucleic acids, higher water content, and lower fat content in the melanoma compared to the normal region are major factors responsible for melanoma's higher refractive index and absorption coefficient than normal tissue. The present work validates that terahertz time-domain spectroscopy imaging technique is possible to be used for the diagnosis of melanoma.