Medical optical imaging

Medical optical imaging describes various imaging techniques using visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light used in imaging.

Because light is an electromagnetic wave, similar phenomena occur in X-rays, microwaves, radio waves. Chemical imaging or molecular imaging involves inference from the deflection of light emitted from (e.g. laser, infrared) source to structure, texture, anatomic and chemical properties of material (e.g. crystal, cell tissue). Optical imaging systems may be divided into diffusive and ballistic imaging systems.