Optimized endoscopic autofluorescence spectroscopy for the identification of premalignant lesions in Barrett's...

Fluorescence spectroscopy has the potential to detect early cellular changes in Barrett's oesophagus before these become visible. As the technique is based on varying concentrations of intrinsic fluorophores, each with its own optimal excitation wavelength, it is important to assess the optimal excitation wavelength(s) for identification of premalignant lesions in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

The endoscopic spectroscopy system used contained five (ultra)violet light sources (λexc=369-416 nm) to generate autofluorescence during routine endoscopic surveillance. Autofluorescence spectroscopy was followed by a biopsy for histological assessment and spectra correlation. Three intensity ratios (r1, r2, r3) were calculated by dividing the area, A, under the spectral curve of selected emission wavelength ranges for each spectrum generated by each excitation wavelength λexc as follows (Equation is included in full-text article.). Double intensity ratios were calculated using two excitation wavelengths.

Fifty-eight tissue areas from 22 patients were used for autofluorescence spectra analysis. Excitation with 395, 405 or 410 nm showed a significant (P≤0.0006) differentiation between intestinal metaplasia and grouped high-grade dysplasia/early carcinoma for intensity ratios r2 and r3. A sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 89.5% with an area under the ROC curve of 0.85 was achieved using 395 nm excitation and intensity ratio r3.

Double excitation showed no additional value over single excitation. The combination of 395 nm excitation and intensity ratio r3 showed optimal conditions to discriminate nondysplastic from early neoplasia in Barrett's oesophagus.