Fluorescence spectroscopy for the detection of potentially malignant disorders and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
Oral cancer is a public health problem with relevant incidence in the world population. The affected patient usually presents advanced stage disease and the consequence of this delay is a reduction in survival rates. Given this, it is essential to detect oral cancer at early stages. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can improve cancer detection in real time. It is a fast and accurate technique, relatively simple, which evaluates the biochemical composition and structure using the tissue fluorescence spectrum as interrogation data. Several studies have positive data regarding the tools for differentiating between normal mucosa and cancer, but the difference between cancer and potentially malignant disorders is not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluorescence spectroscopy in the discrimination of normal oral mucosa, oral cancer, and potentially malignant disorders. The fluorescence spectroscopy was evaluated in 115 individuals, of whom 55 patients presented oral squamous cell carcinoma, 30 volunteers showing normal oral mucosa, and 30 patients having potentially malignant disorders. The spectra were classified and compared to histopathology to evaluate the efficiency in diagnostic discrimination employing fluorescence. In order to classify the spectra, a decision tree algorithm (C4.5) was applied. Despite of the high variance observed in spectral data, the specificity and sensitivity obtained were 93.8% and 88.5%, respectively at 406 nm excitation. These results point to the potential use of fluorescence spectroscopy as an important tool for oral cancer diagnosis and potentially malignant disorders.
Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Limeira 901, Piracicaba 13414-018, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana Lucia Noronha
AL
Francisco
Department of Physics and Materials Science, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos 13566-590, São Paulo, Brazil.
Wagner Rafael
WR
Correr
Special Laboratory of Laser in Dentistry, School of Dentistry of São Paulo, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
Luciane Hiramatsu
LH
Azevedo
Special Laboratory of Laser in Dentistry, School of Dentistry of São Paulo, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Professor Lineu Prestes, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo 05508-000, São Paulo, Brazil.
Vivian Galletta
VG
Kern
Department of Pathology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Rua Prof. Antonio Prudente 211, São Paulo 01509-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
Clóvis Antônio Lopes
CA
Pinto
Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center and the National Institute of Science and Technology in Oncogenomics (INCITO), Rua Prof. Antonio Prudente 211, São Paulo 01509-900, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: lp_kowalski@uol.com.br.
Luiz Paulo
LP
Kowalski
Department of Physics and Materials Science, Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos 13566-590, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: cristina@ifsc.usp.br.
Cristina
C
Kurachi
D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
Early diagnosis; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Oral cavity; Potentially malignant disorders; Squamous cell carcinoma