Closed-form solution of the steady-state photon diffusion equation in the presence of absorbing inclusions

We have developed a theoretical model for photon migration through scattering media in the presence of an absorbing in homogeneity. A closed-form solution for the average diffuse intensity has been obtained through an iterative approximation scheme of the steady-state diffusion equation. The model describes absorbing defects in a wide range of values. Comparisons with the results of Monte Carlo simulations show that the error of the model is lower than 3% for size inclusion lower than 4 mm and absorption contrast up to the threshold value of the "black defect." The proposed model provides a tractable mathematical basis for diffuse optical and photoacoustic tomographic reconstruction techniques. © 2014 Optical Society of America.