Autofluorescence characteristics of healthy oral mucosa at different anatomical sites.
OBJECTIVE
Autofluorescence spectroscopy is a promising tool for oral cancer detection. Its reliability might be improved by using a reference database of spectra from healthy mucosa. We investigated the influence of anatomical location on healthy mucosa autofluorescence.


METHODS
Spectra were recorded from 97 volunteers using seven excitation wavelengths (350-450 nm), 455-867 nm emission. We studied intensity and applied principal component analysis (PCA) with classification algorithms. Class overlap estimates were calculated.


RESULTS
We observed differences in fluorescence intensity between locations. These were significant but small compared to standard deviations (SD). Normalized spectra looked similar for locations, except for the dorsal side of the tongue (DST) and the vermilion border (VB). Porphyrin-like fluorescence was observed frequently, especially at DST. PCA and classification confirmed VB and DST to be spectrally distinct. The remaining locations showed large class overlaps.


CONCLUSIONS
No relevant systematic spectral differences have been observed between most locations, allowing the use of one large reference database. For DST and VB separate databases are required.
de Veld
Diana C G
DC
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, 9700 RB, The Netherlands.
Skurichina
Marina
M
Witjes
Max J H
MJ
Duin
Robert P W
RP
Sterenborg
Dick J C M
DJ
Star
Willem M
WM
Roodenburg
Jan L N
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*