title: Optical diagnostic techniques in the head and neck.
abstract: The aim of this review article is to compare findings from recent prospective studies on microendoscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS) with histopathology on formalin-fixed surgical specimens, to assess if those techniques can be used as an adjunct or alternative to histopathology in defining tissue involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These are non-invasive techniques to aid diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, used to guide the more acurate delivery of treatment, eg photodynamic therapy specifically to abnormal areas.
authors.affiliation: Royal National ENT Hospital.
authors.forename: Tahwinder
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Upile
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: Christian S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Betz
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Maaytah
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopper
mesh_terms: D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*