| [ Summary ] |
Autofluorescence spectra of neoplastic tissues have been reported to be significantly different from those of normal tissues when excited by blue or violet light. Laser induced autofluorescence endoscopic imaging system (LIFE Lung, by Xillix , in Canada and Olympus, in Japan) was developed for the detection of early cancerous or pre-cancerous lesions in the lung. Based on the LIFE-Lung system, a prototype of light-induced autofluorescence endoscopic imaging system for gastrointestinal mucosa (LIFE-GI) has recently been developed and the clinical usefulness of the prototype system has been demonstrated in several hospitals. The system consists of a blue light source for excitation, a white light source for conventional observation, a fiber optical endoscope, two intensified CCD cameras (green and red) for the detection of weak autofluorescence image and a monitor, on which a pseudo color image of neoplastic lesion is displayed, in real time. This system was applied to the early detection of remnant lesions after endoscopic treatment of early gastric cancer and to the detection of laterally spreading superficial colonic tumors. The results suggested these lesions could be detected with this system. This system, which needs no administration of a photosensitive agent, has potential application for the diagnosis of dysplastic land cancerous lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, and may be suitable as a screening method for the early detection of neoplastic tissues. |