Detection of cervical intranodal metastasis in oral cancer using elastic scattering spectroscopy

Jerjes, W; Swinson, B; Pickard, D; Thomas, G.J; Hopper, C

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2004.01.009

« Previous Next »Oral Oncology
Volume 40, Issue 7 , Pages 673-678, August 2004

Detection of cervical intranodal metastasis in oral cancer using elastic scattering spectroscopy

W Jerjes
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London WC1E 6AU, UK
B Swinson
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London WC1E 6AU, UK
D Pickard
- National Medical Laser Centre, University College London, London W1W 7EJ, UK
G.J Thomas
- Department of Oral Pathology, University College London Hospitals and Eastman Dental Institute, London WC1E 6JJ, UK
C Hopper
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College London Hospitals, London WC1E 6AU, UK
- National Medical Laser Centre, University College London, London W1W 7EJ, UK
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, London WC1X 8LD, UK
- Corresponding author. Present address: Maxillofacial Unit, Mortimer Market, London WC1E 6AU, UK. Tel.: +44-207-380-9855

Received 25 November 2003; accepted 22 December 2003.

Abstract

While histopathology remains the gold standard for tissue diagnosis, several new diagnostic techniques are being developed that rely on physical and biochemical changes that mirror or precede malignant change within tissue.

The aim of this study was to compare findings of elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS) with histopathology on formalin fixed neck dissection specimens to see if this technique could be used as an adjunct or alternative to histopathology in defining nodal involvement. The technique involves the use of Mie scattering and is a simple non-invasive method of tissue interrogation.

One hundred and thirty lymph nodes were examined from 13 patients who underwent neck dissection. The nodes were formalin fixed, bivalved and examined by ESS using a pulsed xenon lamp. The intensity of the spectrum at 4 points was considered for comparison; at 360, 450, 630 and 690 nm.

The nodes were then routinely processed and haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections examined histopathologically, and the results compared. Using this technique, a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 68% were obtained.

Keywords: Soft tissue spectroscopy, Optical biopsy, Optical diagnosis of cancer, Non-invasive diagnostics