A review of polarization-based imaging technologies for clinical and preclinical applications

Abstract Polarization-based imaging can provide new diagnostic capabilities in clinical and preclinical studies. Various methodologies of increasing complexity have been proposed by different groups in the last 30 years. In this review we focus on the most widely used methods in polarization imaging including co- and cross-polarized-based imaging, Mueller matrix imaging, and polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography, among others. This short primer in optical instrumentation for polarization-based imagery is aimed at readers interested in including polarization in their imaging processes.