Raman chemical imaging of breast tissue

Apparatus and methods for spatially resolved Raman chemical imaging of breast tissue is disclosed. A region of breast tissue is illuminated with monochromatic light. A spatially organized area of endogenous molecules in the tissue is then detected in the region by detecting a Raman shifted light signal. The Raman shifted light signal is spatially resolved in at least one direction and is thus useful for examining breast tissue, especially to detect malignant tissue.