An apparatus analyzes information indicative of a characteristic of a region to be examined an object. The apparatus comprises an ultrasound generator generating an ultrasound wave toward the region within the object and a light generator generating light toward the region. The ultrasound sound generated is transmitted toward the region. The apparatus further comprises a light receiver, information acquiring unit, and information producer. The light receiver receives light coming from the region and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the received light. The information acquiring unit acquires information indicative of scattering of the light at the region by using either the signal outputted from the light receiver or the light coming from the region. The information producer produces the information indicative of the characteristic of the region based on the scattering information acquired by the information acquiring unit.
