In vivo light scattering measurements for detection of precancerous conditions of the cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the utility of in vivo elastic light scattering measurements to diagnose high grade squamous interepithelial lesions (HSIL) of the cervix.


METHODS
A newly developed fiber optic probe was used to measure light transport in the cervical epithelium of 36 patients undergoing standard colposcopy. Both unpolarized and polarized light transport were measured in the visible and near-infrared. Spectroscopic results of 29 patients were compared with histopathology of the measured sites using ROC curves, MANOVA and logistic regression.


RESULTS
Three spectroscopic parameters are statistically different for HSIL compared with low-grade lesions and normal tissue. When these three spectroscopic parameters are combined, retrospective sensitivities and specificities for HSIL versus non-HSIL are 100% and 80%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Reflectance measurements of elastically scattered light show promise as a non-invasive, real-time method to discriminate HSIL from other abnormalities and normal tissue. These results compare favorably with those obtained by fluorescence alone and by fluorescence combined with light scattering.
Mourant
Judith R
JR
Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, PO Box 1663, MS E535, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. jmourant@lanl.gov
Bocklage
Thérese J
TJ
Powers
Tamara M
TM
Greene
Heather M
HM
Bullock
Kathy L
KL
Marr-Lyon
Lisa R
LR
Dorin
Maxine H
MH
Waxman
Alan G
AG
Zsemlye
Meggan M
MM
Smith
Harriet O
HO
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D055100:Optical Fibers; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology