Fluorescence diagnostics of head and neck cancer utilizing oral administration of delta-amino levulinic acid

Abstract
Tissue fluorescence measurements utilizing a point monitoring fluorosensor and a multi-color fluorescence imaging system were performed in patients with various malignant tumors in the head and neck region. Also precancerous lesions were investigated and characterized by means of laser-induced fluorescence. Oral administration of low-dose (delta) -amino levulinic acid was used for the induction of protoporphyrin IX, which exhibits a strong fluorescence in the red wavelength region. The blue-green fluorescence emitted from the tissue natural chromophores was also utilized for tumor demarcation. By incorporating both Protoporphyrin IX and natural fluorescence in a tumor demarcation criterion a tumor demarcation with a tumor-to-normal-surrounding-tissue of about 5 - 10:1 contrast was achieved. Hypertrophic tissue did not exhibit tumor specific signals.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: