FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY - A TECHNIQUE WITH POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE THEEARLY DETECTION OF AERODIGESTIVE TRACT NEOPLASIA

Background. Any innovation which facilitates the early detection of ne oplastic changes in upper aerodigestive tract mucosa has potential to greatly improve survival and quality of life in persons prone to devel op malignancies in this area. One technology that has shown great prom ise during initial investigations is fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluore scence spectroscopy evaluates the physical and chemical properties of tissue by analyzing the intensity and character of light emitted in th e form of fluorescence. This technology has been investigated for the noninvasive detection of malignancy in various sites including the gas trointestinal tract, lung, breast, and cervix. Methods. This article r eviews the recent work investigating the capabilities of fluorescence spectroscopy to discriminate between normal and neoplastic mucosa in t he oral cavity. Also discussed are potential applications for the dete ction and diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions of the upper aerodigestive tract, and some of the obstacles to overcome to make th is technology feasible. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.