Fluorescence ratiometric classifier for the detection of skin pathologies

Year: 2015

Authors: Anand S., Cicchi R., Cosci A., Rossari S., Kapsokalyvas D., Baria E., Maio V., Massi D., De Giorgi V., Pimpinelli N., Pavone FS.

Autors Affiliation: European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, Italy;
Department of Dermatological Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy;
Department of Surgical and Medical Critical Care, Division of Pathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Abstract: Detection of pre-malignant lesions in skin could help in reducing the 5 year patient mortality rates and greatly advancing the quality of life. Current gold standard for the detection of skin pathologies is a tissue biopsy and followed by a series of steps before it is examined under a light microscope by a pathologist. The disadvantage with this method is its invasiveness. Light based biomedical point spectroscopic techniques offers an adjunct technique to invasive tissue pathology. In this context, we have implemented a simple multiplexed ratiometric approach (F470/F560 and F510/F580) based on fluorescence at two excitation wavelengths 378 nm and 445 nm respectively. The emission profile at these excitation wavelengths showed a shift towards the longer wavelengths for melanoma when compared with normal and nevus. At both excitation wavelengths, we observed an increased intensity ratios for normal, followed by nevus and melanoma. This intensity ratios provide a good diagnostic capability in differentiating normal, nevus and melanocytic skin lesions. This method could be applied in vivo because of the simplicity involved in discriminating normal and pathological skin tissues.

Conference title: European Conference on Biomedical Optics – ECBO 2015
Place:

KeyWords: Dermatology; Fluorescence; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Oncology; Pathology; Tissue, Diagnostic capabilities; Excitation wavelength; Malignant lesion; Malignant melanoma; Melanocytic skin lesions; Minimally invasive; Ratiometric; Spectroscopic technique, Spectroscopy