DETECTION OF SQUAMOUS NEOPLASIA BY FLUORESCENCE IMAGING COMPARING PORFIMER SODIUM FLUORESCENCE TO TISSUE AUTOFLUORESCENCE IN THE HAMSTER-CHEEK POUCH MODEL

BACKGROUND: Early neoplastic changes in the oral cavity may be difficu lt to detect. Fluorescence imaging using porphyrin-derived drugs has b een used to enhance detection of neoplasia. Autofluorescence has also been used for this purpose. This paper compares autofluorescence to po rfimer sodium-induced fluorescence in the detection of neoplasia in th e hamster cheek-pouch model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neoplasia was indu ced in the hamster cheek pouch by the application of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2 -benzanthracene. Animals were imaged either with injection of drug (po rfimer sodium) or without drug (autofluorescence). Imaging was carried out using a laser-induced fluorescence detection system. Biopies were performed on imaged sections and histologic grades were assigned. RES ULTs: Porfimer sodium fluorescence provided 100% sensitivity and speci ficity in detection of neoplasia. The sensitivity and specificity with autofluorescence was 76% and 83%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Autofluo rescence provides an accurate means of detecting early neoplastic chan ges in the hamster cheek-pouch model; however, porfimer sodium imaging does improve detection rates.