Fluorescence photodiagnosis in clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biophotonics
• Oncology

Background:

• Fluorescence diagnosis is crucial for identifying early cancerous lesions and guiding therapy.
• It leverages the distinct fluorescence emitted by abnormal versus normal tissues when exposed to specific light wavelengths.
• Two primary methods exist: autofluorescence and drug-induced fluorescence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles and applications of fluorescence diagnosis in clinical practice.
• To highlight the role of autofluorescence and drug-induced fluorescence techniques.
• To discuss advancements in fiberoptic and endoscopic instrumentation for fluorescence endoscopy.

Main Methods:

• Relies on differential fluorescence emission from tissues.
• Utilizes excitation by specific visible light wavelengths.
• Employs either native fluorophores (autofluorescence) or photosensitizers (drug-induced fluorescence).

Main Results:

• Fluorescence diagnosis effectively differentiates between normal and abnormal tissues.
• Autofluorescence uses native tissue properties, while drug-induced fluorescence enhances contrast with photosensitizers.
• Advances in instrumentation enable practical fluorescence endoscopy.

Conclusions:

• Fluorescence diagnosis is a valuable tool for early cancer detection and image-guided therapy.
• Both autofluorescence and drug-induced fluorescence offer distinct advantages.
• Technological progress continues to expand the clinical utility of fluorescence endoscopy.