Fluorescence spectroscopy: a diagnostic tool for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)

A spectroscopic system incorporating a pulsed nitrogen laser, an optical fiber probe, and an optical multichannel analyzer was utilized to record fluorescence spectra of the intact cervix at colposcopy. Spectra were obtained from 66 colposcopically normal areas and 49 histologically abnormal areas (5 pathologic inflammation, 21 HPV infection, 9 CIN I, 10 CIN II, and 4 CIN III) in 28 patients. The resulting spectra could be used to differentiate histologically abnormal tissues from colposcopically normal tissues with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 92, 90, and 88%. Furthermore, CIN could be differentiated from nonneoplastic abnormal tissues with a sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 87, 73, and 74%. These results suggest that laser-induced fluorescence can be used in the recognition and differential diagnosis of CIN at colposcopy.