Abstract :
Introduction: Oral malignancy has a very high incident rate in India as a result of habitual tobacco chewing and its products. Microscopic examination of the tissue specimen following a biopsy, which is an invasive procedure, forms the gold standard for diagnosing these lesions. Autofluorescence spectroscopy (AF) of blood plasma promises to be a sensitive and non-invasive method for screening and monitoring such cases.
Aim and Objectives: To evaluate and compare the spectral emission range of cases from oral squamous cell carcinoma, leukoplakia and control subjects in the visible spectral region.
Materials and methods: Blood samples from 5 cases each of oral squamous cell carcinoma, leukoplakia and normal individual were taken and subjected to excitation wavelengths at 405 and 420 nm using autofluorescence spectrometer and emission wavelength were noted.
Results: Fluorescent emission spectra of blood plasma of oral malignant lesions exhibited characteristic spectral difference with a shift towards the red spectrum with reference to normal subjects indicating alteration in the internal fluorophore concentration owing to malignant changes.
Conclusion: Autofluorescence spectroscopic analysis of blood plasma promises to be a valuable non invasive tool in the diagnosis of oral malignancy from clinically appearing normal tissue.
Keyword :
Autofluorescence, Oral Cancer, Spectroscopy, Noninvasive