In vivo detection and staging of epithelial dysplasias and malignancies based on the quantitative assessment of acetic acid-tissue interaction kinetics

A novel approach to the problem of non-destructive detection and staging of tissue lesions is presented. The method relies on the in vivo quantitative assessment of the spatial and temporal alterations of light-scattering pro perties, induced in epithelial dysplasias and malignancies of the cervix an d larynx, after topical application of acetic acid solution. Initial clinic al trials show that the method is capable of detecting incipient. lesions a nd that differences in the dysplasia and malignancy grade are clearly manif ested in the measured temporal characteristics of the phenomenon. (C)1999 E lsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.