Polarization Properties of Thyroid Tissue by Polar Decomposition of Mueller Matrix

Polarized light channeling through pathologically characterized and stained sections of thyroid tissue with appropriate combinations of optical elements and by using seven and four independent variable states is used to generate scattering intensities images. The recorded Mueller intensity images are processed, respectively, to acquire Mueller images and a 16-element Mueller matrix. Mueller matrix is further decomposed using polar decomposition technique and the polarization properties of thyroid tissue in terms of diattenuation, depolarization and retardance are understood. These parameters are used to classify the importance of using seven and four independent polarization variable states. This explains the expected difference that is attributed to utilization of four states of polarization when compared to seven states of polarization for thyroid tissue.