  Wavelet transform of polarized fluorescence spectroscopic data of human
breast tissues is found to reliably differentiate normal and malignant tissue
types and isolate characteristic biochemical signatures of cancerous tissues,
which can possibly be used for diagnostic purpose. A number of parameters
capturing spectral variations and subtle changes in the diseased tissues in the
visible wavelength regime are clearly identifiable in the wavelet domain. These
investigations, corroborated with tissue phantoms, indicate that the observed
differences between malignant tumor and normal samples are primarily ascribable
to the changes in concentration of porphyrin and density of cellular organelles
present in tumors.

Medical Physics;Biological Physics