The motivation of the papers in the current issue is to present to the medical community the results of research on how light can be used to obtain breast images and yield diagnostic information. Light offers salient features of color (spectrum), time, coherence, and polarization for noninvasive probing of breast. Over the past ten years researchers from around the world made significant contributions, ranging from development of basic understanding of light propagation in biological tissues and feasibility experiments on ex vivo and in vivo breast tissues to the development of prototype systems and testing on volunteers. Some of the leading groups present their contributions in this issue in the form of review papers. The articles cover the major approaches to optical mammography: frequency-domain near-infrared diffuse optical tomography, time-domain approach, multi-wavelength probing for diagnostic information using molecular signatures of blood, lipids, water, and other breast chromophores, efficacy enhancement is achieved through co-registration of optical approach with Magnetic Resonance Imaging, as well as, thermoacoustic and photoacoustic imaging.

Photonics will play an important role in medicine in the future, because of its diagnostic potential. The application of light in the areas covered in the special issue may very likely revolutionize breast cancer detection, screening, and diagnosis. Finding the key spectral and/or temporal fingerprints associated with cancer may lead to the ultimate imaging approach. The potential benefits to women?s health are immense.

The papers in this special issue give an overview of how the field is advancing.

I thank Ms. Lauren Gohara for her help in tracking the papers.

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