Multispectral digital colposcopy for in vivo detection of cervical cancer

We present a multispectral digital colposcope (MDC) to measure multispectral autofluorescence and reflectance images of the cervix by using an inexpensive color CCD camera. The diagnostic ability of the MDC was evaluated by application of MDC spectral response to fluorescence and reflectance spectra measured from a large clinical trial. High diagnostic performance was achieved by use of only two excitation wavelengths: 330 and 440 nm. Good quality autofluorescence images of the human cervix were acquired in vivo with the MDC. Automated diagnostic algorithms correctly identified CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) lesions from MDC fluorescence images. The MDC has the potential to provide a costeffective alternative to standard colposcopy and better direction of biopsies.