a scanner for a laser imaging apparatus comprises a tabletop having an opening in which a breast to be scanned is disposed ; a reflector ring disposed around the opening below the tabletop , the ring having a reflective surface facing the opening and disposed at an angle downwardly away from the opening ; a laser beam directed upwardly below the tabletop toward the reflective surface such that the beam is reflected across the opening toward an opposite portion of the reflective surface , the beam going across the opening defining a slice plane ; a plurality of collimators including vertical channels directed toward the reflective surface such that light exiting from the breast within the field of view of the collimators is reflected by the reflective surface down through the vertical channels ; a plurality of optical detectors , each detector being disposed below the respective vertical channels . the laser beam , collimators and detectors are adapted to be orbited at the same time around the breast about an orbital axis through the opening . each of said detectors is configured to simultaneously detect light exiting the breast being scanned within the respective field - of - view of each collimator .