title: Laser induced autofluorescence diagnosis of bladder cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the ability of laser induced autofluorescence to differentiate malignant from nonmalignant bladder lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 53 patients with bladder cancer undergoing mucosal biopsies or transurethral resection of a bladder tumor. A quartz optical fiber was advanced through the working channel of a cystoscope and placed in gentle contact with the bladder. Tissue fluorescence was excited by 337 nm. light pulses (nitrogen laser). One fiber was used for transmission of the excitation and emission (fluorescence) light. An optical multichannel analyzer system was used to record fluorescence spectra of the sites of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed the fluorescence spectra of 114 bladder areas (1 carcinoma in situ as well as 28 malignant, 35 inflammatory, 7 dysplastic, 1 squamous metaplastic and 42 normal areas). These lesions included 44 difficult to diagnose suspicious tumors (11 malignant and 33 nonmalignant). We developed an algorithm that used the I385:I455 nm. fluorescence ratio to distinguish malignant from nonmalignant lesions, including inflammatory areas. By analyzing the data on all 114 lesions, we noted the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this method for differentiating malignant from nonmalignant bladder lesions to be 97, 98, 93 and 99%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under excitation with 337 nm. light a clear differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant bladder tissues can be made using the I385:I455 nm. autofluorescence ratio.
authors.affiliation: Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Althausen
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Schomacker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003556:Cystitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*