Cervical Smear Photodiagnosis by Fluorescence

Abstract

Cervical smear autofluorescence diagnostics could be useful for cancer screening at the point of care, in a simple cytology laboratory, and for the monitoring of treatment. We suggest possible fluorophores in the smear content.

Methods for autofluorescence analysis of uterine cavity washings

“…Gavryushin and colleagues [8] modelled the peak of porphyrins at 610 nm. In the region over 600 nm not only the fluorescence of porphyrins but also the fluorescence of collagen VI is possible [1,30].…”

“…On the one hand, a compound called collagen-I could fluoresce around 395 nm. This material can be diagnostically valuable as it reflects structural changes [1]. On the other hand, while investigating washings but not biological tissues strong fluorescence of stromal layer collagen which could complicate the analysis is avoided [1].…”

“…This material can be diagnostically valuable as it reflects structural changes [1]. On the other hand, while investigating washings but not biological tissues strong fluorescence of stromal layer collagen which could complicate the analysis is avoided [1]. Second, the model is based on the assumption that the same materials fluoresce in all the samples, the spectral shapes of their florescence are constant and the only measure that varies is the amplitudes of the components.…”

“…Light fibres of both channels are situated in parallel on the same light guide tip. Silicon substrate was used instead of conventional quartz plates to avoid a contribution of quartz and fluorescence of its surroundings that is rather complicated to remove from the experimental spectra [1]. To avoid a direct specular reflection of the laser beam to be collected, the angle between the plane of the substrate and the direction of the laser beam is chosen to be smaller than perpendicular, usually it is between 45-80°.…”

“…Fluorescence spectroscopy based on natural, intrinsic and endogenous fluorophores can be seen as an alternative or supplement for conventional diagnostic techniques [1,2], but up to now the method has not found direct application in certain areas of medical practice due to problems associated with receiving reasonably high accuracy of diagnosis. This paper presents the way towards solving this issue.…”