An autofluorescence imaging method for detecting neoplastic growths in vivo

To evaluate the capabilities of a calibrated autofluorescence imaging method for detecting neoplastic lesions, an imaging system that records autofluorescence images calibrated by the cross-polarized reflection images from excitation was instrumented. Cervical tissue was selected as the living tissue material. Sixteen human subjects were examined in vivo with the imaging system before the loop electrosurgical excision procedure. It was found that neoplastic lesions can be differentiated from surrounding normal tissue based on the contrast in the calibrated autofluorescence signals, which from neoplastic lesions were generally lower than that from normal cervical tissue.