  The refractive index fluctuations in the connective tissue layer (stroma) of
human cervical tissues having different grades of precancers (dysplasia) was
quantified using a wavelet-based multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis
model. The results show clear signature of multi-scale self-similarity in the
index fluctuations of the tissues. Importantly, the refractive index
fluctuations were found to be more anti-correlated at higher grades of
precancers. Moreover, the strength of multifractality was also observed to be
considerably weaker in higher grades of precancers. These results were further
complemented by Fourier domain analysis of the spectral fluctuations.
